The Houston Rockets managed to avoid a two-game losing streak on Wednesday night by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 99-93, which brought the first-round series score down to 3-2.
Houston’s defense was remarkably aggressive, creating 15 turnovers for the Lakers. Despite Austin Reeves returning to the court after missing nine games due to an abdominal issue and scoring 22 points, it wasn’t enough. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Tali Eason contributed 18 points from the bench.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and seven assists, but his late-game push wasn’t sufficient to surpass Houston’s scoring.
Lakers vs. Rockets: What You Need to Know
- What: NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 6
- When: May 1st, 9:30 PM (EST)
- Where: Toyota Center (Houston, Texas)
- Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: Prime Video (Free Trial)
If the Lakers win later today, they will move on to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2. On the other hand, if the Rockets claim victory, the series will head back to Los Angeles for a decisive Game 7.
Lakers vs. Rockets Start Time
The playoff game today (May 1) is set to begin at 9:30 PM ET.
How to Watch Lakers vs. Rockets for Free
This game will be streamed exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to catch it.
If you’re not a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can start a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, which includes streaming services, free two-day shipping, and other benefits. After the trial, the cost is approximately $14.99 per month or $139 annually.
Also, individuals aged 18 to 24 can potentially get discounts on the Young Adult Prime membership after age verification—up to 50% off the standard monthly price.
Lakers vs. Rockets Playoff Schedule
- Game 1: Lakers 107 Rockets 98
- Game 2: Lakers 101 Rockets 94
- Game 3: Lakers 112 Rockets 108
- Game 4: Rockets 115 Lakers
- Game 5: Rockets 99 Lakers 93
- Game 6: May 1, 9:30 PM ET (Prime Video)
- Game 7: May 3rd*
*as needed
Key Dates for the NBA Playoffs
- April 18th: NBA playoffs first round begins
- June 3rd: NBA Finals Game 1
