Lakers HC JJ Redick drops truth bomb on Game 5 debacle vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers missed a chance to close out their first-round series, falling 99-93 to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The loss trimmed Los Angeles' series lead to 3-2 and forced a Game 6 back in Houston. Head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat the outcome afterward, pointing directly to the team's offensive struggles: the Lakers simply failed to convert shots at a consistent rate. ‘We just couldn’t make shots,’ said Redick. That issue showed clearly in the numbers: Los Angeles couldn’t keep up from beyond the arc, making only 7 of 27 attempts compared to Houston's 14 of 40, a gap of seven makes in a game decided by six points. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists, including 17 points in the second half, but also had trouble from deep, going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. He missed a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds that could have made it a one-point game. Across Games 3 and 4, James had already committed 16 turnovers, and in Game 5, a late steal by Reed Sheppard effectively ended the Los Angeles' comeback hopes. Austin Reaves returned from a nine-game absence due to an oblique injury and contributed 22 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 34 minutes, though his efficiency was an issue, as he shot just 4-of-16 from the field despite going 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 17 rebounds, providing a strong interior presence. Turnovers also hurt the Lakers, who committed 15 in total, with Marcus Smart accounting for six of them. Several turnovers came at pivotal moments that disrupted momentum. Meanwhile, the Rockets came up with a balanced offensive effort, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Jabari Smith Jr. led with 22 points, knocking down 4-of-9 from three-point range, while Tari Eason finished with 18 points. Alperen Sengun contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, nearly missing a triple-double. The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Houston extended the lead to 13 points before Los Angeles mounted an 11-1 run to cut it to three. However, Sheppard responded with a mid-range jumper, followed by a steal and dunk that pushed the lead back to seven and iced the game.