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00:28Доброе утро!
00:30Playoff game, most in NBA history.
00:32Meanwhile, I'm in Thompson and the Rockets looking to force a game six back in Houston.
00:39As we welcome you to the NBA playoffs presented by Google, it's the first round presented by Popeyes.
00:49Taking a look at our Western Conference playoff bracket, the Thunder and the Spurs have already advanced.
00:55Tomorrow night on ESPN, it'll be game six between the Nuggets.
01:00And the T-Wolves as we welcome you courtside.
01:03Hey everybody, Ryan Rucco alongside Jay Billis.
01:05So happy to be with you here for game five between the Lakers and the Rockets.
01:10Jay, you run out of superlatives, adjectives, just words in general to describe LeBron James.
01:16But how about what he's doing in this series at 41 years old?
01:18Well, he's averaged 21 points and nine assists, but he's coming off a game, Ryan, where he only had 10
01:23points and two made field goals and eight turnovers.
01:26Second game in a row that LeBron James has had eight turnovers.
01:30So L.A. is going to have to take care of the ball and rebound against this Houston team.
01:35You have to expect LeBron's going to bounce back in a closeout game.
01:39They don't want to get on a plane and go back to Houston.
01:41Yeah, they had 24 turnovers as a team in that game four loss.
01:45Meanwhile, for Houston, Alperin Shengun has just been so good.
01:49And he was also their motivational speaker Sunday morning before game four.
01:53Yeah, 33 points in game three, 19 in game four.
01:56He's the hub of their offense, especially in the middle of the floor where he's so good out of that
02:01short roll.
02:02He's got a great touch.
02:03But this team has to do a great job of playing with pace in this game.
02:08They want to play ahead of the Lakers defense, not against it in the half court.
02:13Take a look at the starting lineups tonight, and you're going to see not jersey numbers next to names, but
02:19instead age.
02:21And you see just how young the Rockets are without Kevin Durant, who will miss his fourth game in this
02:30series, still dealing with the ankle injury.
02:32And the Lakers will have Austin Reeves come off the bench in his return here in game five.
02:45Kevin Durant here as a spectator and teammate for his Rockets tonight as he continues to deal with that ankle
02:58injury.
03:00So the Lakers get a little bit healthier this evening, and the Rockets still await the possibility of a Durant
03:08return.
03:08Houston looking to force a game six.
03:10The Lakers looking to end things tonight.
03:15All five Rockets starters had 15-plus points in game four, their first playoff game doing so since 1997.
03:25Shangoon and Aiton will jump it up.
03:32We welcome all of you who have just watched Cleveland take a 3-2 series lead on the Raptors.
03:38Ryan Ruko, Jay Billis, Malika Andrews with you for game five between the Lakers and the Rockets.
03:44A 3-1 L.A. series lead.
03:47Aiton and Cangoon to jump it up, and here we go from L.A. as the Lakers control the tip.
03:56Bernard was a huge factor in the two home games here to begin the series.
04:01Here is Smart.
04:02Off to James.
04:04James backing down Thompson.
04:07James dishes out.
04:09Smart at three.
04:10He is good!
04:14Anytime LeBron James feels like he has a matchup advantage, he's going to take it down in the post.
04:20And such a good passer.
04:23Marcus Smart, who had some problems hitting shots in the last game, but had 25 points, hitting five of five
04:30from three in one of the earlier games.
04:33Off to a good start.
04:34And averaging 17-1 L.A. in the series as smart as Smith buries the little jumper.
04:40Imei Udoka talking to us about the aggression Smith has to play with with no Durant, and he feels like
04:46has played with in the games that Kevin Durant has not been on the floor.
04:51Here is James.
04:52Pocket pass.
04:53Aiton denied by Cangoon.
04:56Good challenge on that shot.
04:58That short roll.
04:59Difficult to deal with.
05:00In the corner, Smith at three.
05:02Rims off.
05:04And Aiton the board.
05:06Houston needs to get off to a good start in this game.
05:09They've been playing from behind early on in these games in this series, and it's put them in a bad
05:15spot at times.
05:16They were down four at the end of the first in game one.
05:19Seven at the end of the first in games two and three.
05:22But game four led 26-21.
05:26That was the number one focus for Imei Udoka going into that game four.
05:31Here is Eason, nuzzling into smart and dropping it home.
05:34Cangoon is such a good passer all over the floor, but especially in the middle of the floor.
05:44Cangoon averaging 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists in the series.
05:49Here is Kinnard.
05:50A little hesitation.
05:51Draws a crowd.
05:52Knocked away by Thompson.
05:54And Thompson got cut off by Smart.
05:57No foul call.
05:58Just an out-of-bounds.
06:00It'll be Houston ball.
06:02And Imei Udoka a little confused as to how there was not a foul on Marcus Smart there.
06:08Well, Houston has been switching everything in this game.
06:12And they're so good at shooting the gap if you try to pass out.
06:16They're showing a lot of bodies on every drive by Luke Kinnard.
06:22They forced, they've got two straight games where they've had 15 or more steals
06:27and forced 24 turnovers from the Lakers in the last game.
06:30The Lakers averaging 20 turnovers a game in this series.
06:33They have to take better care of the ball.
06:36Smith kicks it out.
06:37Shepard a deep run off the mark and another rebound for Aiton.
06:42J.J. Redick has been very pleased with the play of DeAndre Aiton in this series.
06:47Has said, if we win this series, we'll talk about him being a huge reason why.
06:51As Smart swivels into a whistle and will go to the line to shoot two.
06:57Marcus Smart has been really important in this series for the Lakers.
07:01He's averaging 17 points a game, three and a half steals,
07:05and had three games in a row with three or more steals.
07:12In the last 40 years, the only players with 12 steals and six blocks
07:18over a three-game span in the playoffs, Robert Covington, Ben Wallace,
07:22Clyde Drexler, and Marcus Smart.
07:25Probably the only time you're going to see those four names together on any list.
07:30It's a little bit of potpourri in NBA history, but Smart a part of it.
07:35As he hits the second.
07:39He's taking Reed Shepard to start the game.
07:43You'll see the Lakers switch some screens and exchanges as well in this one.
07:49Aiton on the switch on Shepard.
07:52Bounce in.
07:53Shangoon.
07:54Double comes.
07:55James got out quickly to Shepard.
07:57Here's Shangoon.
07:58Shangoon wants it again on Smart.
08:00A little fadeaway won't go.
08:02Marcus Smart just fights you down there.
08:05He stays low and uses his leverage against the size of Shangoon.
08:11Poked away by Shepard.
08:13Smart finds James.
08:15Achimura been very efficient in the series.
08:18Can't hit there.
08:19Eight in the O-board.
08:20Kicks it out.
08:22James.
08:23Back ironing off.
08:24Kennard going to get called for the push-off.
08:33Getting an offensive rebound for the Lakers in this game is a bonus.
08:37What they really want to do is keep Houston off the offensive glass.
08:41Houston has been excellent on the offensive glass.
08:45Scoring about 20 points per game off offensive rebounds.
08:48Getting about 16 and a half a game.
08:50And as a result, they're a plus 29 in the series in second chance points.
08:56Here's Shangoon.
08:57Twisting.
08:58Taking.
08:59And hitting.
09:00This plays with great pace.
09:02It's really hard to speed him up.
09:04And his shot fake has been really effective.
09:09Here's Smart calling for the screen from Aiton.
09:12Smart pedals it into the paint and bowls it out of bounds.
09:15And the Lakers turn it over.
09:17You're going to make that pocket pass.
09:18You've got to make it right away.
09:21Second turnover for L.A.
09:23As Jay talked about, that's been a huge issue for the Lakers in this series.
09:27They've survived it up until this point with the 3-1 lead.
09:31Lob inside.
09:32Knocked away.
09:33First turnover for Houston.
09:35James dishes.
09:36Hachimura to the rim.
09:40It's not a smart pass by Reed Shepard.
09:43You have to see the help defense as well as the guy you're passing to.
09:48And not a smart shot there either as Kennard eliminated it.
09:52You want to try to get it to Shang-Goon here in the short roll, but a terrific read of
09:57the play by Luke Kennard to come over from the weak side and knock it away and get an easy
10:02bucket out of him.
10:02Shang-Goon dishes out of bounds.
10:06He's trying to fire to Thompson and threw it away.
10:17The 7-6 Laker lead.
10:207.45 to go in the first quarter of game five.
10:23L.A. the 3-1 series lead.
10:25Tari Eason guarding LeBron James again in game five.
10:29Smart again from three.
10:36Second three for Smart in this first.
10:40He shot at 44% from three in this series.
10:43Smith.
10:44He got it.
10:46When he gets off to a good start, the sky's the limit.
10:5024 points, 6 of 10 from three in game three.
10:55At a career high, 177 made threes this season.
11:00Shooting it at 39% from three in this series.
11:0436 on the season.
11:06James accelerates.
11:08Can't lay it in.
11:08Aiden the foul won't go.
11:10You've got to finish those.
11:14Draw a shot blocker.
11:16That opens up the offensive glass.
11:18But those point blank ones you've got to get.
11:20Thompson looking to keep it in bounds after the miss.
11:24Shang-Goon.
11:26Shang-Goon flops away.
11:30Bodies in.
11:31Awkward movements.
11:32Thompson gets it off.
11:34No.
11:37Good defense by Hachikor.
11:38He's really fought Shang-Goon for that position.
11:44They're smart.
11:45Working behind Aiden.
11:49Smart.
11:50The lob.
11:51Aiden delay.
11:54So difficult to bring help in the middle of the floor.
11:58And Aiden with a hard roll to the basket.
12:01Thompson.
12:04Off to Shepard.
12:05His three.
12:06Rims off.
12:07Shepard at his best shooting game of the series in game four.
12:11Was four of seven from deep.
12:13Had been nine for 30 the first three.
12:16Dimeo Doka told us he hoped that would make Shepard more aggressive offensively tonight.
12:21Hachimura can't hit.
12:22Aiden.
12:23Oh yeah.
12:24Timeout Houston.
12:26Aiden has been a menace on the glass.
12:28And the Lakers in early lead.
12:31Well it's supposed to be the Houston Rockets that are the offensive rebounding team.
12:36Nobody puts a body on DeAndre Aiden.
12:38And he takes advantage.
12:45.com Arena where that cheer that you hear behind me.
12:48That's because Austin Reeves is checking into the first game that he has played since April the 2nd.
12:53When he suffered that grade 2 oblique strain.
12:56Now I watched him work out before the game.
12:59Most of it I'm just going to let the crowd speak for me for a second here Ryan.
13:04But most of the workout that he went through before the game it was half speed.
13:08But ultimately he was cleared to go.
13:10And the last hurdle that he needed to clear as he talked about with J.J. Redick.
13:15Was about reaching a level of comfort with what discomforts he's still willing to play through.
13:19While still helping his team.
13:21Now Austin told reporters he has a very high pain tolerance.
13:24So when something is bothering him you know that it's serious.
13:26But while he had this 3-1 series lead.
13:29And Austin said the commitment that the Lakers made was quote.
13:32They're going to do everything as a team to give us the opportunity to come back.
13:35And they've done exactly that.
13:36But Ryan don't ask J.J. Redick how many minutes.
13:38If there's a minutes restriction here for Austin.
13:40He said in the playoffs a minutes restriction doesn't exist.
13:43No that's right.
13:44That wasn't something.
13:45A road he wanted to dive to deep down.
13:49But one thing he emphasized to us and thank you Malika was just the importance of having another ball handler
13:54J.
13:55And someone who can touch the paint.
13:57Because the Lakers roster severely limited in that regard with Reeves and Luke Allen.
14:04And a guy that can knock down threes.
14:06I mean Austin Reeves averaging 23 points a game on the season.
14:09Every year that he's been in the league he's increased his scoring.
14:12But it gives him another weapon that can stretch out this Houston defense.
14:17Here is Reeves finding Aiden in the lane.
14:20Gets denied.
14:21Gets it back.
14:22And it squirts out of bounds off of Smith.
14:25Going to stay with the Lakers.
14:28That's a heck of a block by Jabari Smith.
14:30Coming over from the weak side.
14:32Timing that out perfectly.
14:34To take it right out of the hands of DeAndre Aiden.
14:36Saved a dunk there.
14:40Kennard gets it in to Reeves.
14:43Off to Aiden.
14:44Aiden going to work early and getting it done.
14:48DeAndre Aiden 6 points, 5 rebounds already in this game.
14:52We had 19 points, 11 rebounds in game 1.
14:55And then in only 25 minutes of game 4 had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
14:59Before he got tossed for that flagrant foul.
15:02What a bad pass by Changu.
15:04Kennard weaving, dishing.
15:06Reeves lobbing.
15:08James couldn't grab it.
15:10Place was ready to pop.
15:13Thompson the other end.
15:15James comes back for the interception.
15:17Lakers on the break.
15:19Kennard rims off.
15:23That's one of his last 10 now from three of the last three games.
15:30Smith gets the whistle called on James.
15:33LeBron recording his 500th career playoff steal a moment ago.
15:38By far and away the most in NBA history.
15:43Next on the list, Scottie Pippen, 105, steals down.
15:49Remarkable.
16:00Let's have a look at the upcoming playoff schedule brought to you by Modelo tomorrow.
16:05Got a couple of game sixes for you on ESPN.
16:08Knicks Hawks.
16:09And then Nuggets, T-Wolves.
16:11Meanwhile, the Sixers close to the Celtics on Peacock for more of these games.
16:15Go to NBA.com or visit the NBA app.
16:17Joel Embiid looked awfully good.
16:20Yeah.
16:21And his return for the Sixers.
16:23What do you have?
16:2433.
16:26That adds a totally different dimension to Philadelphia.
16:29And what a juxtaposition from the game before.
16:32You think, oh, 3-1 going into Boston.
16:34It'll end there.
16:35No.
16:36So three game sixes in the association tomorrow.
16:39Houston looking to add one later in the week.
16:42Lakers open-handed tonight.
16:44Reeves.
16:45Penix.
16:47Welcome back, Austin.
16:49Well, you give him just a little bit of space off that high screen roll.
16:54And he took advantage of it.
16:57That's going to make your league feel a little bit better.
17:0119-13.
17:02L.A. leads it.
17:03Okoge.
17:04That's going to count.
17:06Aiden got it off the glass.
17:08Josh Okoge lays it in.
17:12Basically in drop coverage.
17:14And when Reed Shepard got picked off by that DeAndre Aiden screen,
17:19he just kind of ran into it and melted.
17:22And that let Austin Reeves get off that deep three.
17:27And Reeves, when healthy this year, has been outstanding.
17:32A career-high 23 points per game in the 51 games that he played.
17:38Lakers 36-15 with him.
17:41Just 20-15 without him.
17:44Reeves weaving at a kick.
17:46Going to stay here.
17:48Well, you can see the difference having Austin Reeves out there to handle the ball.
17:52Gives them another quality ball handler.
17:54They can take point guard responsibilities and really stretch out the defense.
18:00He started his career on a two-way contract.
18:03He started his college career at Wichita State.
18:07Had a shoulder injury there.
18:08He was a great shooter for the Shockers.
18:10And then transferred to Oklahoma where he was an All-American.
18:14And is in line to make some money this offseason.
18:20Smart dishes.
18:22Hachimura back ironing off.
18:24Can goon the rebound out there with Thompson Okogie.
18:26As well as Tari Eason and Aaron Holiday.
18:32And then Thompson's got to get more involved.
18:35Eason juggles.
18:37Hachimura up into him.
18:39Eason gives it up.
18:43Stock clock down to three.
18:45Holiday a deep three.
18:47That won't go.
18:49Thompson got a hand on it.
18:50Nothing more.
18:51And it's out of bounds off of Houston.
18:54With 2.50 to go in the first.
18:56Timeout on the floor.
18:57Lakers a four-point lead in the first quarter of game five.
19:01With a 3-1 series edge.
19:06NBA first round is presented by Popeyes.
19:09Love that chicken from Popeyes.
19:16Zone brought to you by AutoZone.
19:19Well, when DeAndre Ayton is engaged for the Lakers.
19:21It makes them a much better team.
19:23He's going to set a ball screen here.
19:25And then it's refused.
19:27And he just rolls hard down the lane to get the easy lob.
19:31And you can't really help.
19:33Ahmed Thompson couldn't really help off Luke Kennard on the right side.
19:36Because you're leaving one of the best three-point shooters.
19:39And by percentage, the best three-point shooter in the NBA this season.
19:42You see the points of the paint for Aiden on the year.
19:46And he's had a strong series against Houston thus far.
19:51Strong start to game five.
19:53That's going to be an offensive foul going the other way as Jackson Hayes picks up the personal.
20:00Yeah, you just have to stay set there.
20:03You know, Jackson Hayes just into the game picks up a foul.
20:06And basically a turnover for L.A.
20:10And the Lakers throughout this series, their first shot defense has been excellent.
20:14The key is can they eliminate offensive rebound opportunities for Houston.
20:18They do there, drawing the foul as that's going the other way.
20:23The Lakers have held Houston to basically 41% from the field on the series.
20:30But they've had so many second chance opportunities.
20:35And that's crushing when you play really good first shot defense and you give up second shot opportunities.
20:41Houston averaging almost 17 offensive rebounds per game, which will be the most in the postseason by a team since
20:4704.
20:47As Reeves lays it in beautifully off the window.
20:52This great hesitation went to a horn set, then a ball screen in the middle of the floor.
20:57And he's so good at crafty getting into the lane.
21:00Tom Seon gets fouled.
21:02And then Tom Seon is going to shoot two as he grabs at his glute.
21:08And he can drive it with force.
21:11Now here's Reeves coming off that screen and roll.
21:13Gave a little hesitation move and then puts it up.
21:17Never brought his right hand on the ball.
21:19Got it up quickly and high off the glass.
21:23You talked about it before, Jay, with the men.
21:26Thompson needing to be a little more aggressive here tonight in game five.
21:31He's played very well in this series.
21:32You see the astonishing amount of minutes that he has averaged in.
21:37And Ime Udoka talked about the way he also, within the series, he was kind of over-penetrating first couple
21:43of games.
21:43They watch film.
21:44He's really happy with the way he's adjusted games three and four.
21:48Well, on the series, he's averaging 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists a game to go with two steals.
21:53And in the last two, he's had 26 in game three and 23 in the last game.
22:00He does things.
22:01I mean, Thompson does things that you just can't teach.
22:04Right.
22:04Just a magnificent athlete.
22:07Misses both free throws there.
22:09Every shot at it, 78% on the season, a career high in year three.
22:16Reeves got fouled.
22:17Will they give him the shots?
22:19They're going to.
22:20You can't have your hand above the ball there reaching in.
22:23I mean, the left hand at Jabari Smith was just out trying to bother Reeves.
22:29But it's above the ball.
22:31And you get that hand above the ball.
22:33And he's going to go right up into it.
22:35That's just a smart play by Austin Reeves.
22:38So Reeves making an immediate impact.
22:43Six points and four minutes off the bench in his first game since April 2nd.
22:50J.J. was talking to us about him getting into the paint.
22:53This year, the Lakers scored 1.2 points per Austin Reeves drive.
22:59That was the fourth most in the NBA of any player behind only SGA, Ant, and Luka.
23:10He's such a good shooter, and he can decelerate as well as accelerate.
23:17James in for L.A.
23:21as Reeves has scored the last eight Laker points.
23:25It's a nine-point Laker lead.
23:28Benny Smith in for Houston.
23:31They favored that.
23:33Overclink Capella over the last two.
23:35And Reeves draws the offensive foul on Finney Smith.
23:40Dorian Finney Smith just ran right over him.
23:43Houston deciding to go with this small lineup.
23:48And he just, instead of setting a screen, just ran him over.
23:51And you can see that Eme Udoka saying, hey, know the play.
23:54You've got to know the play.
24:01Here's Reeves working behind James.
24:03Reeves off the mark.
24:07Hayes couldn't grab it.
24:08LaRabia will.
24:10James in a crowd.
24:11Lays it in.
24:15Jackson Hayes kept it alive, and the Lakers are working Houston on their offensive board.
24:23First points of the game for LeBron James.
24:27Smith digs in, kicks out.
24:29Thompson connects on a three.
24:32When he needed that one, so did Houston.
24:34L.A. doing a really nice job of extending catches and pushing Houston a little bit further out on the
24:40floor.
24:40And that's found money.
24:41I mean, Thompson is just a 21% three-point shooter.
24:46Two for one here for the Lakers.
24:48Reeves lobbing it.
24:49James gets the roll.
24:53A little surprised Houston didn't switch that.
24:56They had Tari Eason basically playing in drop coverage, and LeBron James able to get past him.
25:01Got a nine-second difference game in shot clock.
25:08Thompson off to finish Smith.
25:12Five to shoot.
25:13Eason quick step.
25:14Lays it in.
25:15Plus the foul as Jackson Hayes picks up the personal and a chance for three for Tari Eason.
25:23Early on, that looked like a bit of a zone look, and then that is not a favorable matchup to
25:29have Jackson Hayes closing out to Tari Eason.
25:33And Eason had a terrific game for him.
25:37Had 20 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.
25:41Also did a nice job defensively on LeBron James.
25:48If you look at Lakers' field goal percentage when guarded by Rockets players,
25:54Eason has been the most successful defender within this series for Houston,
25:58holding the Lakers to 42% from the floor as the primary defender.
26:03He's so versatile, and he's really a defensive playmaker.
26:07Makes great reads defensively, gets steals and blocks.
26:10And he always plays hard.
26:12His effort, I think, is what separates him.
26:15He's talented, but he just gives amazing effort.
26:26Eason completes the three-point play.
26:29Lakers with a touchdown lead.
26:31Ten seconds to go in the first.
26:34Smart.
26:36He's in the James screen.
26:38Back to LeBron.
26:40James!
26:41No.
26:42And the rebound hugged by Okoge.
26:44That'll do it for the first.
26:46The Lakers, the Lakers, a seven-point lead after one in game five.
26:50Well, it's good to see Austin Reeves back working the two-man game with LeBron James.
26:55A nice little lob.
26:56He didn't dunk it, but give him a break.
26:58He's 41.
27:05Back to the NBA first round presented by Popeyes here with Jabari Smith, Jr.
27:09And Jabari, Emi Udoka told us before the game that early in this first quarter, the points
27:13of Ephesus were not playing from behind and getting you specifically going early.
27:17How can you and Alper and Cengun help key the rest of the offense?
27:20We've got to be aggressive.
27:22It starts with stops, though.
27:22We've got to get stops, get out in transition, so we can't go against a set defense.
27:26But it's just on me and him to be aggressive and set the table.
27:29You've been one of the best rebounding teams in the league all season, but the Lakers get
27:33some early second-chance opportunities.
27:35How do you limit them on the glass going forward?
27:37Get hits.
27:38Clean up the pick-and-roll coverage.
27:39They're getting someone, the biggest contestant in the pick-and-roll.
27:42So just clean that up, get hits, and get out and run.
27:45Jabari, thank you for that insight.
27:46Ryan, back to you.
27:47All right, thank you, Jabari.
27:48Thank you, Malika.
27:50Start of the second quarter, Ryan Ruko, J. Billis, Malika Andrews with you.
27:54Game five, Lakers a 3-1 series lead, a seven-point lead at the end of one.
27:59Offensive foul on Alper and Cengun, and LeBron James and the Lakers were waiting to see
28:05if they would review it to upgrade with just a common foul there for Cengun,
28:10who admitted he thought DeAndre Aydes shouldn't have been ejected for his elbow on Cengun.
28:15In-game four, Hayes battling.
28:19Benny Smith comes away with it.
28:21Smith, look at a push for Houston.
28:27Benny Smith buries the three.
28:31Dorian Finney-Smith had two total points in the series before that make.
28:38Yeah, that was his first three, and he needed that one,
28:40only shooting 27% from three on the season after shooting 40% last year.
28:45Smart doesn't get the roll that time.
28:53Thompson.
28:54Got the switch, now he's got Marcus Smart.
28:57Cengun does inside, but Smart's sitting right on his legs and fronting him.
29:02Jabari Smith Jr. buries the three, and it's a one-point game.
29:07He's a different player when he gets off to a good start.
29:11He can put up points in a hurry, just a beautiful shooter.
29:15And Jay can feel his verve and aggression tonight as Reeves can't finish there.
29:21Hayes tipping and gets fouled.
29:24Ten points already for Jabari Smith Jr.
29:27That's a big difference maker for this Houston team.
29:30He's averaging 18 points a game.
29:35That's pretty good defense by Jared Vanderbilt.
29:37He's right there guarding him.
29:39That's not an easy shot to make, but in game three, Jabari Smith was excellent.
29:44He went six of ten from three in that game, wound up at 24.
29:50Houston, a 9-0 run going back to the end of the first.
29:53Lakers, James good look, Vanderbilt gets denied, stoned at the apex.
30:02Denny Smith can't hit the three on the other end.
30:14Hayden trying to flag it down, finds James, his three, rims off.
30:21Lakers now three of ten from deep.
30:23Houston, four of twelve.
30:27I think Zimae told us before the game, he said,
30:29us missing shots really is probably the biggest story of the series
30:34through the first four games.
30:36Rockets have started to hit some as Holiday can't hit that one.
30:40Reeves to Vanderbilt, leaking and laying.
30:44The Lakers, one of the better teams in the NBA at passing ahead.
30:48A lot of times it's Luka Doncic and LeBron James that do it,
30:52but that was an excellent pass ahead.
30:54The Lakers are keeping a really tight shell of their defense.
30:58Their help is really well positioned.
31:00That lane filled with purple shirts.
31:04Here's James leading Reeves.
31:08James left alone.
31:10Why not?
31:17So back-to-back buckets from the Lakers and the lead back to five.
31:23Houston throughout this game, for the most part,
31:25they've been playing five on five in the half court.
31:27That's got to change.
31:28They've got to play with more pace in their offense.
31:31Kangoon kicks it out.
31:32Finney Smith, another.
31:35Dorian Finney-Smith buries the three
31:39and then points at his former teammate, Luka Doncic.
31:41That was an excellent pass.
31:43Jared Vanderbilt helped in
31:45because he knew there was going to be a spin move,
31:47but an excellent pass to Dorian Finney-Smith
31:50that was wide open.
31:52Reeves got bumped,
31:54and Austin Reeves draws the foul.
32:01Kangoon, when he's in the lane,
32:03oftentimes he will spin back,
32:06and Jared Vanderbilt was trying to sit on that
32:09and left Dorian Finney-Smith wide open,
32:11eight and a little bit late closing out there.
32:13But that was,
32:14Kangoon is such a good passer.
32:19Anytime you think about doubling,
32:21you've got to ask yourself,
32:23how do you feel about open shots?
32:27Here's James.
32:29Like that.
32:31Vanderbilt can't hit.
32:34Rebound.
32:35Scorms into the arms of Shangoon,
32:36and then Vanderbilt fouls Thompson
32:39in the backcourt.
32:41First team foul on the Lakers here in this second.
32:45I'm in Thompson looking at the official,
32:46asking for a transition take foul,
32:48but that wasn't it.
32:51Shepard, Shangoon, Thompson, Eason,
32:54and Jabari Smith, Jr.,
32:55the five for the Rockets.
32:56This unit has been very successful in this series.
33:01Entering tonight a plus 30 in the first four games.
33:04Thompson gets fouled,
33:06and free throws here for him,
33:08and Thompson.
33:11Looked like it went on DeAndre Aiden.
33:14He came over to stop the drive.
33:16He was in this restricted area,
33:18at least right next to it.
33:22And the officials were saying
33:23he wasn't straight up and down.
33:24He certainly wasn't square.
33:29So Thompson,
33:30who missed his first two free throw attempts tonight,
33:33back to the line,
33:37and hits the first.
33:42Lakers with James,
33:43Vanderbilt,
33:44Aiton,
33:44Kennard,
33:45and Hachimura.
33:46Austin Reeves with a nine-minute run,
33:49scored eight points,
33:50had four assists
33:51in his first nine minutes since April 2nd.
33:55And as Malika talked about earlier,
33:57J.J. Redick told us,
33:59it's the playoffs,
34:00not concerned with a minutes restriction.
34:04When it comes to Reeves,
34:07here's James.
34:11James spinning,
34:12dishing,
34:13Hachimura,
34:15bodying Shepard,
34:16and burying the mid-range.
34:18The Lakers just putting Reid Shepard
34:20into a pick-and-roll situation.
34:22They want to pick on him
34:23as much as they can.
34:25And Shepard's an instinctive defender,
34:28but he is giving up some size.
34:31Only 6'2",
34:32185.
34:33Shepard a deep one.
34:35He's good.
34:36That's what he brings to the table.
34:38He looks a lot bigger
34:39when he can knock down a 29-footer.
34:44And Houston has jumped back in front.
34:49Five lead changes,
34:50two ties in this first half already.
34:54Hachimura had it knocked away,
34:56gets it back.
34:57Shepard does have great hands.
35:00Five to shoot.
35:02Hachimura trying to use the size again on Shepard.
35:05Can't hit this time.
35:06Better job on the defensive glass from Houston.
35:11Shangoon lumbering, dishing.
35:13Shepard!
35:15Man-hit had a wide-open corner pop.
35:17James, yeah, flinging it ahead,
35:19but ends up in the front row.
35:23Timeout on the floor.
35:25Houston has overcome an 11-point deficit.
35:28They have a one-point lead in Game 5.
35:34Also presented by Google,
35:36we are in L.A. for the first round,
35:37presented by Popeyes.
35:39A NBA playoff double-edder on ESPN tomorrow.
35:42Game 6 in Atlanta.
35:43The Knicks,
35:44a 3-2 series lead over the Hawks.
35:46That's at 7.
35:47Following that,
35:48it'll be the Nuggets and the T-Wolves
35:50with Minnesota having the 3-2 series edge.
35:52Coverage starts with NBA tip-off
35:54Ernie, Shaq, Henney, and Charles.
35:58Second quarter action in Game 5.
36:01Houston a one-point lead on the Lakers.
36:03Time for tonight's DraftKings Sportsbook Player Pulse.
36:06Well, Amin Thompson is such an important player
36:08for the Houston Rockets.
36:10Career highs this year in scoring and assists.
36:13And in this series,
36:15the Rockets are plus 28 when he's on the floor,
36:19minus 29 when he's off the floor.
36:22DraftKings is the number one sportsbook
36:24for live betting.
36:25Use promo code SPLASH when you sign up.
36:28Shepard off the window and in.
36:31Reed Shepard with a tough finish.
36:34Beautiful hesitation move.
36:36That shot credibility he has from the perimeter
36:39can set up that straight line drive
36:41down the lane line.
36:43Under six minutes to go
36:44in the second quarter of Game 5.
36:46Lakers a 3-1 series lead.
36:49James to the corner.
36:51Gets it back.
36:52Eason all over him.
36:53James left.
36:55He floated.
36:55And he gets fouled.
36:57LeBron James will shoot two.
37:06Terrific, unique story today
37:09from our colleague Dave McMiniman
37:11who did a year-long journal,
37:14an eight-city year-long conversation
37:16with LeBron James that you can read right now
37:21on the ESPN app or ESPN.com
37:23and just so many unique questions
37:25that Dave was able to deep dive with LeBron.
37:30Things that you just have never heard him
37:34really talk about before,
37:35including one of the things they got into
37:37was the people in the NBA
37:39who were welcoming to LeBron
37:40when he first burst onto the scene
37:43because there were plenty
37:44who weren't, right?
37:45Who weren't immediately embracing
37:47when it came to the hype of James.
37:49But he talked about Jason Kidd,
37:51Moses Malone,
37:53Gary Payton,
37:54and Ken Griffey Jr.
37:55as guys who really, you know,
37:58helped bring him comfort
37:59early on in his NBA journey.
38:01There's no Ken Griffey Jr.
38:03played in the NBA.
38:03Yeah, well, he's that good of an athlete.
38:07The kid.
38:11A really good defense by the Lakers.
38:14Smith has to launch in.
38:17That's out of bounds to L.A.
38:20Just extending catches,
38:22pressuring everything,
38:23and pushing Houston further out on the floor.
38:26The Rockets have found it difficult
38:28in the half court to run clean offense
38:30and just couldn't get into anything.
38:34Smith checks out for Houston.
38:38Okoge in.
38:40Reeves back in for the Lakers
38:41with Aiton Kennard.
38:43Smart and Hachimura
38:45as James gets a breather.
38:47Reeves into the paint.
38:49The swim move.
38:50The kick.
38:51Smart didn't take it.
38:53We'll lob it in,
38:54and Okoge knocks it away.
38:56Smart needed to shoot that ball
38:58on the catch.
38:59Shepard, the hesitation.
39:01Dish out.
39:02How about Okoge?
39:03He got it.
39:05On a three,
39:06and Houston,
39:07now seven of 18
39:09from three-point range.
39:11That was a really smart play
39:13by Reed Shepard.
39:17Aiton foul line jumper
39:19gets the roll.
39:20De'Andre Aiton,
39:228.7 rebounds.
39:24That's a fifth assist
39:25for Austin Reeves.
39:27That's why you want to get it
39:28to the roller
39:29as quickly as you can
39:30out of that short roll,
39:31and De'Andre Aiton
39:32has the touch
39:33to be able to knock down.
39:34That's not an easy shot.
39:39And a foul called
39:41on the delay.
39:45As Mitchell Irvin
39:46comes in and says,
39:47yes, you got him,
39:48De'Andre Aiton.
39:51Aiton ejected
39:52from game four
39:54when he
39:55elbowed
39:56Shengun.
39:57I think he's saying,
39:58I got him a minute ago.
40:04Also looked like
40:05it was more of a
40:05neck-shoulder tap
40:06than a
40:08facial contact,
40:09even though
40:10Shengun was reacting
40:11to the face.
40:12Double comes.
40:13Yeah.
40:14Topps in there
40:15to finish it.
40:16That cut by
40:16Josh Okogie
40:17underneath
40:18to make himself
40:19available.
40:20The Lakers
40:21went with a double.
40:22Canard went to double
40:23from the baseline side
40:25to get it out
40:25of Shengun's hands,
40:27but that cut
40:28by Okogie
40:29opened it all up.
40:31Rockets trying to
40:31force a game six.
40:33Smart.
40:33He got it
40:34with a hand
40:35in his face.
40:36Difficult angle.
40:38Marcus Smart
40:39three of four
40:40from downtown.
40:41I think he took
40:42that shot
40:42looking to get
40:43the foul
40:43more so than make it.
40:45Shengun
40:46whirling,
40:48fishing,
40:49Shepard extra feed,
40:51Eason in the corner.
40:52No.
40:54Reeves the rebound.
40:55Great box out
40:56by Reeves.
40:57Canard!
40:59Shorts.
41:03Benardo for two
41:03from three.
41:05He was eight of
41:06eleven the first
41:07two games of the
41:07series here.
41:09Now he's just one
41:10of his last eleven.
41:11Yep.
41:13Shengun motors in
41:15at the bottom
41:16of the rim.
41:17Here's
41:18Hachimura
41:18two-on-two
41:19developing.
41:25Under three minutes
41:26to go in the first
41:27half of game five.
41:29Reeves lost it.
41:32Eason lobs it.
41:34Thompson awaits
41:35and slams.
41:39That's the kind
41:40of defense
41:41that Houston
41:41needs to play.
41:42Just aggressive
41:43on the ball
41:44with the men
41:45and Thompson
41:45knocking that
41:46thing away.
41:47Seventh turn
41:48over the force.
41:49Reeves
41:50connects
41:52on another
41:54three.
41:54Eleven points.
41:56Five assists
41:57in twelve minutes
41:58for Austin Reeves
41:59and Mariska
42:01loving what she sees.
42:07Tied at forty-four.
42:11Shengun
42:11the limbs
42:12going everywhere
42:13as he finishes.
42:15The crowd
42:16doesn't like the fact
42:17that he dragged
42:17that pivot foot
42:18but
42:20smart play
42:21on the keeper
42:21thought he might have
42:22handed it off
42:23but kept it himself.
42:27Smart
42:27spins into the paint
42:30backdoor
42:30Kennard
42:31Cano
42:33as Eason
42:34comes up with it.
42:37Okoge
42:38with some space
42:38didn't take it.
42:41Eason will
42:42off the line.
42:44Really good defense
42:45by Austin Reeves.
42:46He took a shot there
42:47and put his body
42:48on the line.
42:50Shepard
42:51takes it away
42:51from Smart
42:52two on one.
42:54Eason
42:54Euros
42:55and Lays
42:56and JJ
42:57Redick
42:58will take a timeout.
42:59Eight turnovers
43:00now for the Lakers
43:01in this first half
43:02as that continues
43:03to be an issue
43:04and it's Houston
43:05trying to stay alive.
43:09NBA first round
43:10presented by Popeyes
43:11is brought to you
43:12by Google
43:14and Burger King.
43:16You rule.
43:20Pressure tested
43:21brought to you by Nissan.
43:23Well neither of these teams
43:24are great three-point shooting teams
43:26but Houston has caught
43:28a little bit of fire
43:29drawing multiple defenders
43:30on the drive
43:31by Jabari Smith
43:32leaves
43:32Amin Thompson
43:34wide open
43:34not known as a three-point shooter.
43:36And then
43:37Dorian Finney-Smith
43:38you help off him
43:39leave him alone.
43:40He has not been scoring
43:42in this series
43:43but he's made two threes
43:44in the first half
43:46of this game
43:46and Reed Shepard
43:47anytime he shoots it
43:48from the catch spot
43:49he's likely to make it
43:51but the Lakers
43:52really have to do
43:53a better job
43:54of taking care of the ball.
43:55Nine points off turnovers
43:56in this second quarter alone
43:59and their half-court defense
44:00has been good
44:02but you allow Houston
44:03to play ahead
44:04of your defense
44:05with turnovers
44:06and that's going to
44:07put you in a bad spot.
44:09And a lot of
44:10careless turnovers
44:11here
44:13in this second.
44:14Achimura
44:15looking to attack
44:16Shepard
44:16he talked about
44:17his instincts
44:18dug in there
44:19at the perfect moment.
44:20When he was at Kentucky
44:21he got a ton of steals
44:22and deflections
44:23he has a hard time
44:24staying in front
44:25of ultra quick players
44:27guards and wings
44:28in this league
44:29but his hands
44:30are excellent.
44:31Nine turnovers
44:32now for the Lakers
44:33not a good looking
44:35shot there
44:35from Smith
44:36outstanding save
44:37from Achimura.
44:39Lakers have numbers.
44:41Reeves didn't take
44:42Achimura
44:43will
44:44and
44:45hit
44:49that was a five
44:51on four
44:52I'm in Thompson
44:53had fallen down
44:54and had a tough
44:55time getting up
44:59Houston
44:59not rushing
45:01into the two
45:01for one
45:02that opportunity
45:03is gone
45:07he
45:07Smith
45:08gives it right back
45:09three to shoot
45:10Shepard to the corner
45:12Eason
45:12he got it
45:13just as the
45:15shot clock
45:16expired
45:18Tari Eason
45:19shot 36%
45:20from three
45:21on the season
45:22he had shot it
45:23well
45:24really well
45:24before the All-Star
45:25game
45:26but just 22%
45:27after the All-Star
45:28game
45:28Reeves
45:29two seconds left
45:30got fouled
45:31on the floor
45:31Houston
45:32had one
45:33to give
45:36the Rockets
45:38after starting
45:39one of eight
45:39from three
45:39have caught fire
45:40since
45:41seven
45:42for their last
45:4413
45:44well they've had
45:46so many
45:47open ones
45:47because the Lakers
45:48are really compact
45:50and protecting
45:51the lane
45:52on drives
45:55three seconds
45:56remaining
45:57Reeves
45:58with one
46:01and that'll
46:03do it
46:03for the first
46:03half
46:04Houston
46:05looking to
46:05stay alive
46:06and force
46:07a game
46:07six
46:08after falling
46:09behind
46:103-0
46:10in the series
46:11they have
46:12a four-point
46:13halftime lead
46:14coming up
46:15on halftime
46:15presented by
46:16Hyundai
46:16Ernie
46:17Shaq
46:18Penny
46:19and Charles
46:20the fellas
46:21break it down
46:23Austin Reeves
46:24had a terrific
46:25first half
46:26you leave him
46:27alone
46:27it doesn't matter
46:28how deep
46:29he knocks
46:29it down
46:32and Jabari
46:33Smith
46:34has had an
46:34excellent
46:35first half
46:35as well
46:36Houston
46:36with a
46:37four-point
46:37halftime
46:38lead
46:46welcome back
46:47to the NBA
46:47playoffs
46:48presented by
46:49Google
46:49we are in
46:49LA
46:50for the first
46:51round
46:51presented by
46:52Popeyes
46:53game five
46:54of this first
46:55round matchup
46:55and Houston
46:56a 51-47
46:58lead
46:59over the
46:59Lakers
47:00looking to
47:00stay alive
47:01and force
47:01a game
47:01six
47:02as we
47:02welcome you
47:03courtside
47:03once again
47:04Ryan Rucco
47:04alongside
47:05Jay Billis
47:06really tightly
47:07played
47:07end of that
47:09half
47:09the last
47:0911 minutes
47:10neither team
47:11led by more
47:11than four
47:12it's Houston
47:13with the lead
47:13though
47:13thanks to that
47:14three-point
47:14shooting
47:14as we check
47:15out who is
47:16putting in the
47:16work
47:17brought to you
47:17by Microsoft
47:18365
47:19with Copilot
47:20well Houston
47:21knocked down
47:21eight threes
47:22in that first
47:23half
47:23and they spread
47:24it around
47:24Amin Thompson
47:25knocked down
47:26a wide open
47:26three
47:27Dorian Finney
47:28Smith
47:28knocked down
47:28two of them
47:30and you expect
47:31that Reed Shepard
47:32when he shoots
47:33it from the
47:33catch spot
47:34he is going
47:34to make it
47:35Josh Okogie
47:36knocked one
47:36down
47:37so when the
47:38Lakers were
47:38packing the
47:39paint on
47:40drives
47:41you saw
47:42Houston
47:42kicking it
47:43out
47:43and they
47:44are knocking
47:44down
47:44those open
47:45opportunities
47:4650%
47:47from the
47:47field
47:48for the
47:48Rockets
47:49in that
47:49first half
47:50in large
47:50measure
47:51because they
47:52got some
47:52transition
47:53opportunities
47:53off
47:54Laker
47:54turnovers
47:55in the
47:55second
47:55quarter
47:56the
47:57Lakers
47:57gave up
47:58nine
47:58points
47:59off
47:59turnovers
48:00and a
48:01lot of
48:01those
48:02were on
48:02what I
48:02would call
48:03some
48:03careless
48:03turnovers
48:04let's check
48:05in with
48:05Malika Andrews
48:06Ryan I
48:07spoke to
48:07Lakers
48:07assistant
48:08coach
48:08Scott
48:08Brooks
48:09at the
48:09half
48:09and he
48:10said
48:10that
48:10they're
48:10keying
48:11in
48:11on
48:1121
48:11of
48:1238
48:12shots
48:13being
48:13threes
48:13for the
48:14Houston
48:14Rockets
48:14that's
48:15not
48:15typically
48:15something
48:15they see
48:16now
48:16they
48:17are
48:17comfortable
48:17with
48:17the
48:18fact
48:18that
48:18they
48:18are
48:24in the
48:24second
48:24half
48:24continue
48:25to
48:25pack
48:25the
48:25paint
48:26contest
48:26those
48:27threes
48:27and guys
48:27stop me
48:28if you've
48:28heard this
48:28before
48:29but the
48:29turnovers
48:30that's what
48:30they were
48:31talking about
48:31at the
48:31half
48:32Ryan
48:32great
48:33stuff
48:33Malika
48:33thank you
48:34very much
48:34yeah
48:35nine
48:35of those
48:35turnovers
48:36in the
48:36first half
48:37they've
48:37averaged
48:3720 a
48:38game
48:38Reeves
48:38starting
48:39the second
48:40half
48:40after he
48:41came off
48:41the bench
48:42in the
48:43first half
48:43his first
48:44game since
48:45April
48:452nd
48:46and draws
48:47the foul
48:48here
48:49and you
48:50like that
48:50JJ Redick
48:51told us
48:51before the
48:54restrictions
48:54for Austin
48:55Reeves
48:56like
48:57let him
48:58determine
48:58how long
48:59he plays
48:59if he can
49:00go
49:00go as
49:01long
49:01as you
49:01can
49:02because
49:02he makes
49:03a huge
49:03difference
49:04out there
49:04had 11
49:05points
49:06in the
49:07first half
49:07along with
49:08Marcus Smart
49:08and
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