Austin Reaves' status, LeBron James' follow-up to his Game 4 showing and more will shape Game 5 of this series.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Tari Eason added 18 and the Houston Rockets avoided playoff elimination for the second straight game with a 99-93 victory over the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday night,

Reaves has 22 points after missing nearly a month with an oblique injury, and the Lakers use a late surge to get within three points twice in the final minutes, but the Rockets extend the first-round series with a 99-93 win.

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves has finally been cleared to return from an oblique strain for Game 5 against the Rockets.

The LA Lakers blew it.  They have no killer instinct. No urgency. No desperation.  They stood around and watched each other miss shots. They struggled to get stops. They were sloppy.

Will Austin Reaves suit up for the Lakers during Game 5 of their series against the Rockets on Wednesday night?

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn't mince words when talking about Game 5, which finally could see an Austin Reaves injury return.

The Lakers’ mission was to take the Rockets’ postseason life away. But the Rockets are still breathing. And very much alive and confident after beating the Lakers 99-93 on the Lakers homecourt in a pivotal Game 5 to extend the best-of-seven first round playoff series by at least one more game,

The Los Angeles Lakers fans sure are happy to see star guard Austin Reaves back on the court in purple and gold.

While the superstar guard's presence on the court doesn't mean the Lakers could upset Oklahoma City, it would give them a better idea of where they stand.