Rockets vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NBA Playoffs Game 5

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LeBron James makes history every time he steps on the floor. He isn’t looking to be on the wrong side of it when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.

As I’m sure you’ve heard, no NBA team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win a playoff series. But after Houston avoided the sweep at home this past weekend, the history buffs aren’t too sure that stat will hold up.

Tonight’s Rockets vs. Lakers predictions know James isn’t taking Houston for granted, especially coming off one of the worst performances of his storied career.

My NBA picks like LeBron to top his scoring prop in Game 5, even if it’s not enough to land the knockout punch.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Rockets vs Lakers prediction

Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 5?

Rockets: The Lakers are home chalk for Game 5. That’s a contrast to Game 1, when they closed as 2.5-point home underdogs once Kevin Durant was ruled out. A few wins, home court, and the promise of Austin Reaves’ return has flipped the script on this series but I’m not counting out the Rockets just yet. Houston’s defense has improved greatly over the past six quarters and I think there’s value in them stealing a victory in L.A. as +150 moneyline pups.

Rockets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 23.5 Points (-115)

A lot of factors folded into LeBron James’ terrible night in Game 4. 

The tight turnaround, exhaustion from carrying the club, Tari Eason’s defense, and perhaps a little complacency all stewed together for a 2-for-9 shooting effort and just 10 points from James. Oh, and there were the eight turnovers.

Following the one-sided loss, James immediately pointed the finger at himself and was quick to correct anyone asking if the Los Angeles Lakers were comfortable with a 3-1 series edge over the Houston Rockets.

“There’s no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done. None of us are,” he told the media.

Before his dud in Game 4, James scored a combined 57 points in the two games prior and fired up 42 total field goals in those efforts. That had his scoring prop jacked to 25.5 points with heavy juice on the Over Sunday.

LeBron has now enjoyed a two-day break to recharge and reassess the Rockets’ defense, while that 10-point sputter and Austin Reaves’ possible return anchor his scoring total at 23.5 points for Wednesday night.

This number is the shortest scoring O/U listed for James since losing Reaves and Luka Doncic late in the regular season. Even if Reaves does return, he’ll likely be restricted, and the scoring load remains on James’ broad shoulders.

Player projections for Game 5 don’t discount “The King”, pegging him between 24.5 and more than 27 points Wednesday night. The pressure of giving Houston a glimmer of hope, as well as cleaning up his mess from Game 4, has me leaning toward the high side of those forecasts.

Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay

The Rockets’ offense has been a mess with Kevin Durant in and out, but Houston decided to get it done with defense in Game 4, and this team has looked much stronger on that side of the ball over the past six quarters. Those stops and turnovers translated into easy buckets, and desperation keeps things close on Wednesday.

Alperen Sengun has stepped up as the Rockets’ leader in this series and has been a steady scorer the past two games, putting up 19 and 33 points on a combined 21-for-39 shooting (54%). With the Lakers doing a better job limiting turnovers, this game is played at a slower tempo in the halfcourt, which works well for Sengun. Some models sit as high as 24.5 points in Game 5.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

  • Rockets +4.5
  • LeBron James Over 23.5 points
  • Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points

Our “from downtown” SGP: Rocket Man

Alperen Sengun is the Rockets’ top option with KD out. I see this as more of a half-court game, and he can go after the Lakers’ weak interior defense. His projections call for 24+ points, 11+ rebounds, and he’s been a shot swatter on the defensive end all series.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

  • Rockets moneyline
  • Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
  • Alperen Sengun Over 9.5 rebounds
  • Alperen Sengun Over 1.5 blocks

Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 5

  • Spread: Rockets +4.5 | Lakers -4.5
  • Moneyline: Rockets +150 | Lakers -180
  • Over/Under: Over 208.5 | Under 208.5

Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have gone Over their Team Total in 20 of their last 30 games (+8.35 Units/24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.

How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5

Location Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off 10:00 p.m. ET
TV ESPN

Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries

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NBA Playoff Wednesday discussion

HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 26: Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets steals the ball from LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are the NBA playoff games for Wednesday, April 29, 2026:

  • Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons — 7:00 PM ET (Prime Video)  
  • Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers — 7:30 PM ET (ESPN)  
  • Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers — 10:00 PM ET (ESPN)  

That’s your full slate for today. Enjoy the basketball!

Cubs’ Nico Hoerner says he wishes he had confronted Dodgers C Dalton Rushing for calling teammate a ‘fat f***’

Dalton Rushing does not appear to be in MLB to make friends.

It’s not often that you see the backup catcher of the defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers in this case, take up the resident villain role. Yet Rushing seems to have antagonized an opponent in three straight series.

On Saturday, it was the Chicago Cubs. The incident in question came in the third inning with Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner at bat, when a pitch in the dirt from Roki Sasaki allowed Cubs backup catcher Miguel Amaya to take second base.

In the aftermath of Amaya beating Rushing’s throw to second, the cameras caught Rushing saying … something that led to a surprised reaction from Hoerner. Some lip-readers at home interpreted Rushing as calling Amaya a “fat f***.”

The Dodgers won that game 12-4.

All of that hung in the air until Tuesday, when Hoerner went on the Spiegel & Holmes Show and confirmed that Rushing indeed called Amaya a “fat f***.”

His reaction:

“I wish that I had confronted him a little more directly, to be honest. I was pretty taken aback and in the middle of my at-bat. It was just kind of a strange thing to experience. So yeah, I felt a little weird about that.

“I’m not saying I should have like tackled the guy or anything. But yeah, just a little taken aback. Just at the end of the day, you just want to have your teammates’ backs.”

Not that any of this is important, but we’re just going to note that Rushing is listed at 6-foot, 220 pounds, and Amaya is listed at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds.

For those keeping score at home, here’s what has happened with Rushing in the Dodgers’ previous two series:

All of that occurred in the span of a week.

Rushing was the Dodgers’ first player taken in the 2022 MLB Draft, with the 40th overall pick in the second round. He was soon making top-100 prospect lists and would’ve likely gotten run as a starting catcher a couple of years ago in most organizations.

However, Rushing is a member of the Dodgers, who have one of the best catchers in the sport in Will Smith. So Rushing has worked only as a backup since his MLB debut in May 2025.

He didn’t impress much last season, slashing only .204/.258/.324 with 4 homers and 58 strikeouts in 155 plate appearances, and he had only one trip to the plate in the 2025 playoffs. This season has been different, as Rushing has posted a .348/.423/.848 line with seven homers — second on the Dodgers — in only 52 plate appearances.

That success has seen him get more playing time recently, with starts at catcher in five of the Dodgers’ past 11 games. He has also been the designated hitter in the two games Shohei Ohtani has operated as a pitcher only, meaning the team likes Rushing’s bat the most off the bench.

Obviously, we’re a long way from confirming Rushing as a star in the making after a good April, but he is certainly getting his name out there.

Secretary of Agriculture Issues 2026 Wildfire Readiness Memorandum Ahead of Active Fire Season

(Washington, D.C., April 29, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new Secretarial Memorandum (PDF, 882 KB) and letter (PDF, 932 KB) directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to heighten national wildfire readiness, accelerate community-focused risk reduction, and strengthen firefighter health and safety for the 2026 fire year.

Gerrit Cole throws 60 pitches in third rehab start as journey back to Yankees continues

Gerrit Cole’s pitch count keeps climbing in the minors as he prepares to rejoin the New York Yankees this season. Cole, a six-time All-Star who will be 36 in September, is attempting to complete a long-awaited comeback from Tommy John surgery, which cost him the 2025 campaign.

On April 16, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner threw 44 pitches in his first rehab start, notably reaching 96 mph while on the bump for Double-A Somerset. He followed that outing with a 52-pitch performance last Thursday for High-A Hudson Valley.

Back with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, Cole ramped up his workload to 60 pitches, going 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss to Double-A Portland, a Boston Red Sox affiliate.

Cole recorded only three strikeouts and gave up three runs, but he didn’t issue a walk, and he went nearly six innings. He retired the first 11 batters he faced; however, he eventually conceded two homers. That said, of his 60 pitches, 45 were strikes. Cole has only one walk through three rehab starts.

He hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He spoke Wednesday about what he has learned since then.

“I just try to keep things in better perspective,” he said, via SNY. “I’ve become a lot more grateful for the level of competition that the big leagues are and how hard it is to play and how much I miss it. I hopefully improved as a father over the last several months, being around the kids and spending more time with them. And I think just a fresh perspective, grateful to be playing a sport for a living. It’s a blessing.”

While Cole admitted that sometimes he catches himself daydreaming about pitching against, say, the Texas Rangers, he said it’s not too difficult to stay in the moment.

He explained that the gradual buildup he’s going through calls for intense focus and dedication in the here and now.

“You have moments where you think about where you would ideally like to be, and I think that’s natural,” a thoughtful Cole said Wednesday, via MyCentralJersey’s Mike Ashmore.

“Maybe those moments happen more frequently as you get closer to the end. But even though it’s one start, there’s like five days of process that you’ve got to execute. The reality is, I’m confident I’m going to execute these things really, really well. But it’s been a while since I’ve done them.”

Cole added: “It may seem like the same thing over and over again, but that’s the point. We don’t have time up there [in the majors] to push it an extra day, should the recovery not be — you’ve got to go, and you’ve got to perform. I want to get there, but I just have to build such a big base in order to get up there, get in a flow and start to execute.”

Cole is expected to return to MLB action in late May or early June. His road back to the Yankees continues, one step at a time.

Steve Kerr meets with Warriors brass, discusses future but decision not expected until next week

Steve Kerr sat down with Golden State governor/controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, but the trio did not reach a decision on the coach’s future.

They are set to meet again next week, according to a report from Shams Charania, Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater of ESPN. Both sides said the meeting was “productive” but that there is no rush to make a decision, according to the report.

While Kerr hinted he is leaning toward stepping away after a dozen seasons and four rings at the helm of the Warriors, he also is torn about leaving Stephen Curry and Draymond Green at this point in their careers.

“I hope he’s our coach next year. You want my opinion? I think not,” Green said after the season. “Just because it just feels like that. It felt like that was it. I also hope I’m on this team next year, we also don’t know that. And man, if it was, what a run it’s been. So lucky to have had for 12 years Steve as my coach.”

If Kerr comes back, the suggestion is that Dunleavy wants to evolve the Warriors’ style of play — this isn’t 2016 anymore. The Warriors thrived at their peak playing “small” with Green able to defend centers. While Green is still playing at a high level, the league has changed — teams have gotten bigger but maintained their athleticism and shooting (think Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren). This Warriors team is older.

Also part of the decision is whether the Warriors start to pivot toward a younger roster or go all in to make one more deep run in the Curry era. The Warriors have a 9.4% chance of landing a top-four pick in next month’s NBA Draft Lottery. Get lucky on that front, and it starts to change what the team’s plans may be going forward — which could impact Kerr. He’s not the guy they want to handle a team starting to rebuild.

Pistons vs. Magic preview: Time’s up, Detroit needs to bring urgency

ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 27: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket while being defended by Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic during the first half of game four of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Kia Center on April 27, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Pistons 94-88 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The clock is ticking on the Detroit Pistons’ 2025-26 season much earlier than anticipated. Detroit faces elimination against an imposing Orlando Magic defense and, frankly, the Pistons’ nonchalance and self-immolation. Fun fact: the Pistons are holding Orlando to the worst field goal percentage in the NBA Playoffs and averaging nearly four more blocks per game than the next closest team. Detroit’s problem is that its field goal percentage is fourth-worst, and they are combining that poor shooting with 18.3 turnovers per game. If Detroit could get out of its own way and hit a few shots, they’d be the team up 3-1. Do I have confidence they can reverse those trends? Not really.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons -10.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (1-3)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Orlando Magic (3-1)

Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

KAT unlocked by Mike Brown, Celtics go cold + anti-tanking draft measures

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

We have an action-packed episode of The Big Number coming your way!

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down how Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming an offensive hub by unlocking Jalen Brunson and the Knicks’ offense. Are the Knicks making a case to come out of the East?

Next, the duo discusses why the Celtics offense is going through a deep freeze and how the Philadelphia 76ers have halted the Celtics’ offensive weapons. Is this pattern for Boston in the postseason cause for concern?

Then, they share what has led to Jalen Duren’s drop from the regular season to the postseason and make sense of Evan Mobley’s performance in the Cavs’ series against the Raptors. Should the Cavs consider making serious moves?

Plus, Adam Silver sent out an NBA draft lottery reform proposal to 30 GMs across the league. Tom and Dan give you the details and walk through a draft simulator based on the new proposed reform.

All that and more!

The Big Number: 26 Kat (1:40)
TLN 1: 14 Celtics (20:58)
TLN 2: 68.8 Jalen Duren (28:15)
TLN 3: -15.7 Mobley (36:00)
Anti Tanking: (44:40)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns smiles during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns smiles during the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Big Number and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Steve Kerr reportedly had productive meeting with Warriors brass about future; decision not expected until next week

Steve Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors is still up in the air, and a resolution isn’t expected until next week at the earliest. 

Kerr met with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy for two hours on Monday, according to ESPN, but the two sides did not determine whether Kerr would remain the franchise’s head coach next season. The meeting was described as productive, according to the report. 

The three men plan to meet again next week to continue discussions. Kerr is set to take a golfing trip to close out the week, and he is reportedly “torn” about his decision.

“It’s April,” a source told ESPN. “We don’t need to rush.”

Kerr has spent the past 12 seasons with the Warriors, and oversaw their dynasty-level run throughout the NBA. The franchise won four titles under his watch and reached the NBA Finals six times in eight years, including in each of his first five seasons at the helm. The team won 73 games during the 2015-16 season, too, which broke the all-time wins record set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Kerr was also a member of that Bulls team.

But the Warriors have struggled in recent years. They went just 37-45 this season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. Kerr had an emotional moment with stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the court at the end of their final game. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death,” Kerr was heard telling the duo. “Thank you. Appreciate you.”

Kerr has been pretty open about knowing that his time with the Warriors may come to an end since that loss. Green even predicted that Kerr wouldn’t be around next season. The Warriors reportedly want Kerr to sign a multiyear extension this offseason, rather than return for a farewell tour-type season. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kerr said after their final game. “I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There’s a run that happens, and sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.

“If that’s the case, then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach in front of our fans in the Bay, to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray, the whole group. It may still go on, it may not. I don’t know at this point.”