Houston Rockets

The Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers were underdogs going into their first-round playoff series. Orlando looks to become the seventh No. 8 seed to advance when it plays at top-seeded Detroit. The fourth-seeded Lakers, who are without the injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, host the fifth-seeded Rockets, who have missed Kevin Durant for three of the four games.

The Rockets, again facing elimination, officially ruled out star forward Kevin Durant for Wednesday night's Game 5 against the Lakers because of a left ankle sprain.

Luka Doncic is not expected to be available for the Los Angeles Lakers' second round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder should they advance by defeating the Houston Rockets. Doncic has been out since April 2nd with a hamstring injury. "My understanding is it is a slow path on the recovery path," said Shams Charania on ESPN on Tuesday. Doncic still doesn't have a timetable for when he could return. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 35.8 minutes across 64 games ...

The Rockets’ 115-96 victory in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Lakers on Sunday gave them a glimmer of hope they can erase a 3-0 deficit. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday and Houston center Alperen Sengun is optitmistic his team can bring the series back to Houston for a Game 6. “The […]

The Houston Rockets did well to respond with an emphatic 115-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of their first-round matchup, doing just enough to stave off elimination. But while they may live to see another day, circumstances are still looking dire for the Rockets. Kevin Durant has already been ruled out […] The post Zach Lowe expresses uncertainty on Ime Udoka’s Rockets future appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in Game 4, though it wasn’t because of Deandre Ayton as he had his best game of the series. Ayton was the lone bright spot for the Lakers offensively as he led the team with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. However, Ayton was […]

With their backs against the wall, the Houston Rockets have no choice but to remain defiant. They are only one loss away from being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year, as they are down, 3-1, against the Los Angeles Lakers in their best-of-seven series. The Rockets saved their […] The post Jabari Smith Jr. believes Rockets are better than Lakers despite 3-1 deficit appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While there isn’t just one reason the Lakers lost Game 4 to the Rockets, their offense certainly didn’t help.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently up 3-1 in their first round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, having dropped Game 4 in blowout fashion on Sunday night. The Lakers are still anxiously awaiting the injury return of Luka Doncic, who has missed the entirety of this series with a hamstring issue. The basketball world […] The post Mark Cuban might have ‘jumped in front of a train’ to stop Lakers’ Luka Doncic trade, Jeanie Buss claims appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves touched on various topics in his first media session since his latest injury.

The Lakers are one win away from eliminating the Rockets and advancing in the bracket

Lakers star Austin Reaves is optimistic to return for Game 5 vs. the Rockets after missing about four weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain, sources told ESPN.

The Houston Rockets are facing elimination against the Los Angeles Lakers, in their NBA Playoffs series. Houston is getting some more bad news as it seems Kevin Durant won’t be available for Game 5. “The expectation is the Rockets will be without Kevin Durant for Game 5,” ESPN reporter Shams Charania said on the network […] The post Rockets’ Kevin Durant Game 5 injury update vs. Lakers is bad sign appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Rockets stars Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. took shots at the Lakers’ older roster, highlighting Houston’s youth and recovery edge ahead of Game 5 against LeBron James and company.

The starting guard, who has been sidelined along with Luka Doncic since April 2, is questionable as the team looks to close out the playoff series vs. the Rockets.

The Houston Rockets earned a 115-96 Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, forcing a Game 5 for the playoff series. Although Houston needs to string together three more wins to advance to the next round, it sounds like Alperen Sengun and the club are confident heading into the next contest. While […] The post Alperen Sengun’s Game 5 warning shot to Lakers promises a war appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are still battling for a place in the Western Conference Semifinals. L.A. holds a 3-1 series lead after dropping Game 4 in blowout fashion in Houston. The winner of the series will go on to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder secured their […]

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 career playoff field goals. James accomplished the feat with his second basket of Game 4 against the Houston Rockets. James has a sizable lead on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,356) and Michael Jordan (2,188) for most-made playoff field goals and will […]

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first loss of the playoffs with a blowout Game 4 defeat against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers are still in firm control of the series, up 3-1 as things shift back to Los Angeles for Game 5, but the team would love to get some good […] The post Lakers rumors: Austin Reaves set to return vs. Rockets. What about Luka Doncic? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Phoenix Suns in a first-round sweep Monday, winning Game 4 by a 131-122 final. Oklahoma City has now won 12 consecutive first-round games, sweeping the opening round in each of the past three postseasons. The Thunder advance to face either the Houston Rockets or Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder are currently -115 favorites to win the 2026 NBA championship, which puts their probability at 53.5 percent Shai Gilgeous-Al...