Lakers favored to close out Rockets
- The Los Angeles Lakers entered Wednesday’s Game 5 against Houston with a 3-1 series lead and home court, one win from advancing. - Los Angeles was listed as a 4.5-point favorite, while Houston again ruled out Kevin Durant after the Rockets’ 115-96 Game 4 win. - The winner draws Oklahoma City in Round 2, with Game 5 reshaping the West bracket. (nba.com)
The Lakers came into Wednesday night one win from ending their first-round series with Houston and moving on to Oklahoma City. (nba.com) Los Angeles led the series 3-1 after winning the first three games, including a 112-108 overtime road win in Game 3 on April 24. Houston stayed alive with a 115-96 home win in Game 4 on April 26. (nba.com) (espn.com) Betting markets had the Lakers favored again for Game 5 in Los Angeles, with BetMGM pricing them as 4.5-point favorites by late Wednesday morning. (sportsbookwire.usatoday.com) Houston’s biggest roster question had an answer before tipoff: Kevin Durant was ruled out again with a left ankle sprain. ESPN reported it was the fourth straight game Durant would miss in the series. (espn.com) That left Houston trying to extend the series behind the group that carried Game 4. Amen Thompson scored 23 points and Tari Eason added 20 in Sunday’s win, which was the Rockets’ first of the matchup. (espn.com) The Lakers’ side of the equation was simpler: win at Crypto.com Arena and avoid a return trip to Houston for Game 6 on May 1. NBA.com listed Game 7, if needed, for May 3 back in Los Angeles. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The bracket stakes were already set around them. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder were waiting in the second round for whoever came out of Lakers-Rockets. (nba.com) Game 5 was scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, April 29, with the Lakers trying to finish a series that briefly tightened after Houston’s blowout in Game 4. (espn.com) (nbcsports.com)
