Rockets Lakers Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, tries to get by Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Los Angeles.

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Lakers, Cavs and Magic look to avoid Game 7s in 1st round of the NBA playoffs

Lakers, Cavs and Magic look to avoid Game 7s in 1st round of the NBA playoffs

The Houston Rockets are brimming with confidence after avoiding elimination twice with consecutive wins to force Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. That game is one of three Game 6 matchups in the NBA on Friday night starting with the underdog Orlando Magic trying again to close out its series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. The second game of the night features James Harden and the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers looking to wrap up their series against the fifth-seed Toronto Raptors.