NBA roundup: Rockets, Pistons stay alive with Game 5 wins

Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points and Tari Eason added 18 as the Houston Rockets fought off elimination for a second consecutive game and clawed back into their first-round playoff series with a 99-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5. Alperen Sengun scored 14 points with nine rebounds and eight assists, while Amen Thompson added 15 points. The Rockets now trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference series after falling into a 3-0 hole. No NBA team has ever rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. The consecutive Rockets victories came without star Kevin Durant (ankle), who has only played in Game 2. Austin Reaves scored 22 points off the bench in his return from an oblique injury, and LeBron James added 25 points for the Lakers. Deandre Ayton scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Los Angeles, who will get a third chance to clinch the series on Friday at Houston. The Lakers continue to be without star Luka Doncic (hamstring). Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons stayed alive with a 116-109 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Cade Cunningham poured in a career-playoff-high 45 points, while Tobias Harris supplied 23 points and eight assists. Ausar Thompson contributed six points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and five steals. The Magic’s Paolo Banchero countered with a career-playoff-best 45 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Anthony Black had 19 points for Orlando, and Franz Wagner sat out due to a calf strain. In another Eastern Conference series, the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to a 3-2 lead over the Toronto Raptors with a 125-120 win. Dennis Schroder scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and James Harden finished with 23 points. The Cavaliers, trailing by 12 points multiple times, have won all three of their home games so far. Evan Mobley had 23 points and nine rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell scored 19. Harden also had nine rebounds, five assists, and six turnovers in a series-high 39:45 minutes. RJ Barrett paced the Raptors with 25 points, and Ja’Kobe Walter scored a career-playoff-high 20 points, making 6 of 14 three-point attempts. Brandon Ingram injured his right heel in the second quarter and did not return.