[embedded content]
Austin Reaves returned to the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The Rockets secured a 99-93 win to take a 3-2 series lead, but Reaves delivered 22 points and six assists in his first game back after a nine-game absence.
Reaves described the emotional and physical challenge of returning, saying, “It’s good to be back out there. Overall felt really good.”
He acknowledged missed opportunities offensively in a game where rhythm proved difficult for both sides.
Reaves said, “I missed a lot of easy looks. We didn’t shoot it great as a team. So we’ll watch film tomorrow, get better, and we play Friday. So we go try to win a game Friday.”
Los Angeles struggled from deep, shooting 7-of-27 from three-point range, while Houston’s defense continued to force uncomfortable possessions.
The guard also pointed to rust after a long injury layoff, noting, “I haven’t played in a month. Unfortunately, I wish I could get a little bit more of a rhythm before jumping into the fire like that.”
He added, “It’s really hard to emulate real basketball reps, even if you’re doing it in practice… so I got a little tired in the second half, but something I got to push through.”
Despite the conditioning gap, Reaves emphasized confidence in his preparation and mindset.
He said, “I trust myself and trust the work that I put in.”
Los Angeles briefly surged late in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three after a LeBron James driving layup sparked a run.
Reaves credited James for the push, stating, “I think Bron just took over the game. We’ve seen him do it a million times throughout his career.”
James finished with 25 points, while Reaves and Deandre Ayton (18 points, 17 rebounds) supported the Lakers’ late push that ultimately fell short.
Houston answered through balanced production, led by Jabari Smith Jr. with 22 points and Tari Eason with 18, while Alperen Sengun contributed 14 points and eight assists.
Reaves reflected on the broader offensive issues for Los Angeles, saying, “We didn’t shoot it great as a team… you make shots, you miss shots, and like I said, we’ll move on to Friday.”
The Lakers guard also pointed to Houston’s defensive pressure as a key factor in the series, acknowledging both execution and opponent intensity.
He said, “You could go a little bit of both. In a lot of situations, you can either spark a run or you can kind of kill a run with one little mental mistake. So that’s how they defend. They’ve done that all year. Pressure, play hard.”
Despite the loss, Reaves maintained a steady outlook heading into Game 6 in Houston.
He added, “It was nice to get back out there. Obviously wish I played a little better. Wish I made a couple more shots, but at the end of the day, had fun out there and it was good to compete.”
Los Angeles now faces elimination pressure on the road, while Houston looks to close the series behind a defense that continues to dictate possession swings.
