The Houston Rockets forced a Game 5 with a 115–96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Rockets star Alperen Sengun helped the team secure the crucial home win with 19 points and six rebounds.
Without star forwardKevin Durant, Sengun stepped into a leadership role ahead of their Game 4 victory. The 23-year-old Turkish center delivered a speech to help motivate his teammates before Sunday’s game. He urged them to move past the Game 3 loss and focus on extending their season.
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The message proved effective, as Houston won Game 4 and avoided playoff elimination. Now, ahead of Game 5, Sengun has sent a clear warning to the Lakers — the Rockets are ready to match their physicality and intensity.
After Tuesday’s practice, Sengun spoke to reporters about the physical nature of the upcoming game at Crypto.com Arena. He warned that his young teammates would match any aggressive play the older Lakers squad brings to the hardwood.
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“I’m ready,” Sengun said. “I’m ready for those. I know they’re gonna hit. Well, we’re hitting them too. We’re younger. We heal faster than them probably. We’re just gonna hit each other and see at the end of the day what’s going on.”
Despite Wagner’s confidence, Houston still faces a steep challenge. The team currently trails the best-of-seven series, 3-1. No team in NBA history has ever won a playoff series after falling behind 3–0.
The Rockets are attempting to become the first team to break this streak. They must now win three more games in a row to advance to the next round.
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For the Lakers, the objective is clear. They must close out the series at home on Wednesday night. Allowing the Rockets to win will give them confidence and swing the momentum considerably in this series.
A Lakers win in Game 5 would also spare them the trip to Houston for Game 6 on Friday. They are hoping to secure extra rest for the second round by defeating the unrelenting Rockets in front of their home fans.
The winner of this series will face the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference semifinals.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
