Wednesday is win or go-home time for the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Rockets took care of business first, defeating the Golden State Warriors 131-116 to force a Game 6. Houston jumped out to a 40-26 lead after the first quarter and held on for the crucial victory, even after Golden State's bench made it a 13-point game with 5:01 left.
Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 26 points, while Amen Thompson had 25 points and five steals, becoming the first player with 25 points, 5 steals and 3 blocks in a playoff game since Charles Barkley in 1993.