LOS ANGELES -- The Houston Rockets found themselves in a familiar scenario Wednesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, leading by five points with under a minute remaining.
Two games before, they had led by six points with under 30 seconds remaining, on the verge of their first victory in the series. However, things quickly fell apart, as costly turnovers by the team's burgeoning stars, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard, upended the moment.
This time, instead of faltering, the Rockets held on to beat the Lakers 99-93 and avoid elimination for the second straight game while trimming Los Angeles' series lead to 3-2.
"I think it was just a learning moment. And I feel like we grew up. We're growing up together," Smith said. "And it's just good to see Reed bounce back from the mistake, me bounce back from the mistake.... A week ago, we folded and lost the game, you know what I'm saying? So I think that's a step in the right direction."