HOUSTON (AP) — Following back-to-back victories that saved their season, the Houston Rockets enter Friday night’s Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers with renewed momentum and determination in their first-round playoff battle.
“We put ourselves in a bad position, but we can still make history and come back one game at a time,” Houston big man Alperen Sengun said. “Play at home, come back here, just do the same thing we’re doing.”
Friday’s NBA slate features three crucial Game 6 contests, beginning in the Eastern Conference where the underdog Orlando Magic will attempt once more to eliminate the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. The evening’s second matchup showcases James Harden and the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers seeking to finish their series against the fifth-seed Toronto Raptors.
The night concludes with Houston’s historic pursuit, as the Rockets aim to join an exclusive group of just four teams in NBA history that have forced a Game 7 after dropping the opening three contests. Notably, all 159 previous teams facing a 3-0 deficit have ultimately lost their series.
Houston will likely continue without superstar Kevin Durant, who has been sidelined for three straight games due to an ankle injury following his absence from the series opener with a knee bruise.
“You cannot take off days anymore,” Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. said. “If you lose, you go home, and on this team, nobody wants to go home. Everybody is here to fight.”
Despite Austin Reaves returning to action, the Lakers failed to eliminate Houston in Wednesday’s contest. Reaves, the team’s second-leading regular season scorer who had been absent since April 2 with an oblique injury, contributed 22 points on 4-of-16 shooting across 34 bench minutes in the 99-93 defeat.
LeBron James anticipates improved performance from Reaves in Friday’s crucial game after working through initial rust in Game 5.
“A few of his jump shots were short. That makes sense. He hasn’t played in a month,” James said. “He gives us another ball-handler, another attacking threat at the point of attack, so it’s great for us.”
Meanwhile in Toronto, the Raptors maintain optimism following their 125-120 Game 5 setback, though injury concerns loom large.
“I like our odds 100%,” Toronto’s Scottie Barnes said. “We’re going to go home and we’re going to get it done.”
Toronto may face elimination without All-Star Brandon Ingram, who departed Wednesday’s contest during the second quarter with right heel inflammation and never returned after scoring just one point. Barnes also battles injury concerns after taking a knee to the quadriceps while attacking the basket in the second quarter.
“Obviously, we need (Ingram) out on the floor,” Barnes said. “His playmaking ability and his defense and everything he brings.”
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson recognizes the mental challenge ahead for his squad following Wednesday’s comeback victory.
“These are high pressure moments,” he said. “You’re down, you can feel the crowd getting nervous. So, I think we took a step (Wednesday). Now the big one is can you go and beat this team on the road? Can we go in there and go take this because we haven’t shown we can yet.”
Detroit staved off elimination behind Cade Cunningham’s franchise playoff-record 45 points in their 116-109 Game 5 triumph.
Orlando now seeks to complete their series victory and capture their first playoff series win since 2010. Success would make them only the second No. 8 seed to advance in the first round after emerging from the play-in tournament, joining Miami’s 2023 accomplishment.
Game Details – Magic at Pistons: 7 p.m. EDT (Prime Video). Series: Magic lead 3-2. Betting line: Pistons by 3 ½. Cunningham, selected first overall in 2021, delivered a franchise-defining performance Wednesday night to extend Detroit’s season. The 24-year-old guard must produce another exceptional showing to force Game 7 as the Pistons chase their first playoff series victory since 2008. After struggling with efficiency in previous contests, Cunningham connected on 13 shots Wednesday following just eight and seven makes in the prior two games. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, the 2022 top pick, also tallied 45 points in Game 5 but struggled at the free-throw line, missing 7 of 12 attempts. The Magic will depend heavily on his scoring with Franz Wagner’s availability uncertain due to a strained right calf that kept him out of the last game. Wagner contributed 17 points and 5.5 rebounds across the first four contests as Orlando built their 3-1 series advantage.
Game Details – Cavaliers at Raptors: 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video). Series: Cavaliers lead 3-2. Betting line: Cavaliers by 3 ½. Cleveland aims to close the series by accomplishing what no team has managed through five games: winning on the opponent’s home court. This remains the only first-round series where the home team has won every game. Atkinson emphasizes turnover reduction as a key focus after Cleveland overcame a 12-point second-half deficit despite surrendering 28 points off 15 turnovers to Toronto. The Raptors face elimination while dealing with injuries to both Ingram and Barnes.
Game Details – Lakers at Rockets: 9:30 p.m. EDT (Prime Video). Series: Lakers lead 3-2. Betting line: Rockets by 3 ½. Without Durant, Houston has utilized balanced scoring to secure their last two victories, with all five starters reaching double figures in both contests. The Rockets must maintain this approach while continuing their improved three-point shooting, having connected on 26 attempts over the past two games compared to just 18 in the previous two contests. Los Angeles needs cleaner execution to end the series after accumulating 38 turnovers in their two losses. “You give credit where credit is due,” James said. “They played well the last two games, exceptionally well, and we’ve got to answer the call.”
