Wednesday featured pivotal win-or-go-home Game 5 contests for both the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers in their respective playoff series.
In the first matchup of the day, the Houston Rockets successfully pushed their series against the Golden State Warriors to a Game 6 with a convincing 131-116 victory. Houston asserted control early, establishing a significant 40-26 lead by the end of the first quarter. They managed to maintain their advantage throughout the game, holding off a late surge by Golden State`s bench that narrowed the gap to 13 points in the final minutes.
Leading the charge for the Rockets was Fred VanVleet with a team-high 26 points. Amen Thompson also delivered a standout performance, contributing 25 points and five steals. Notably, Thompson`s stat line of at least 25 points, 5 steals, and 3 blocks made him the first player to achieve this in a playoff game since Charles Barkley in 1993.
For the Warriors, Moses Moody finished as the top scorer with 19 points. Stephen Curry had an uncharacteristically quiet offensive night, scoring just 13 points – the lowest total of his career in a game where his team had an opportunity to clinch a series. The series will now shift back to the Chase Center for Game 6 on Friday.
In the second crucial game, the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Los Angeles Lakers` season with a decisive 103-96 win, securing their spot in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Timberwolves are now set to face the victor of the Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets series, as they aim for a second consecutive trip to the Conference Finals.
Rudy Gobert was a dominant force for Minnesota, delivering a massive performance with 27 points and 24 rebounds. This makes him only the second player in Timberwolves playoff history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game, joining franchise icon Kevin Garnett. Despite a strong effort from Luka Doncic, who recorded 28 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, the Lakers were unable to overcome the Timberwolves and extend their season.
