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Lakers vs. Rockets: Recoveries could be the deciding factor in the series

Sandy Verma | April 29, 2026 7:24 PM CST

Despite trailing 1-3 in the series, the Houston Rockets have no intention of backing down. After avoiding a sweep in Game 4, Ime Udoka’s team is heading back to California for Game 5 with a clear goal: make life difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers and force the series back to Houston.

Leading the emotional charge for the young Rockets is Alperen Sengunwho played a key role in their first (and possibly only?) win of the series with 19 points and 6 rebounds.

The recovery factor, according to Sengun

Sengun analyzed Houston’s approach with confidence, pointing to physical recovery as the key to shifting the momentum of the matchup:

The Turkish center also emphasized the team’s morale is high after the Game 4 win, noting that the plan is to play with pace and aggression:

Dominance in the paint

So far, the Lakers have struggled to contain Sengun, who is averaging 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. After a dominant showing in Game 4 and a 33-point performance in Game 3, the Turkish big man believes Houston can exploit Los Angeles where it hurts most: in the paint.

Jabari Smith Jr. echoed his teammate’s sentiment, stating that the Rockets feel like the better team overall, and that only a poor start to the series allowed the Lakers to build a 3-1 lead.

Will Durant play in Game 5?

To complete a historic comeback from 0-3 – something only 13 teams in NBA Playoff history have accomplished – Houston will need to turn words into a flawless Game 5 performance, likely once again without Kevin Durant.

The medical staff has already indicated that, despite ongoing treatment, the two-time NBA champion has not recovered from his ankle injury. Durant’s absence since Game 2 has heavily impacted Houston’s performances, forcing the team to lean on Sengun as its leader. Will it be enough to bring the series back to Texas?