According to Perkins, the stakes couldn’t be higher as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to face the Houston Rockets in a crucial Game 5. The Lakers currently hold a 3-1 lead but face rising momentum from a confident Houston squad.

On April 27, 2026, on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ on Monday morning, Kendrick Perkins appeared. During the appearance, he commented on the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Houston Rockets game.

Kendrick Perkins said, “Game 5 is a must-win for the Lakers. I know that much, they better get it done in Game 5, which I believe they will, because if they prolong passed it, they’re gonna be having different conversation. But Game 5 on Wednesday is a must win for Bron and the Los Angeles Lakers.”

During the discussion, Perkins also added, “You don’t want to have this series extended and all of the sudden the Rockets’ confidence continues to grow, and all of the sudden we could be saying something that we never witnessed in the history of the NBA.”

Houston is brimming with confidence after the Lakers’ flop in Game 4 with 23 turnovers and 23 percent shooting from the three-point range.

Amen Thompson scored 23 points, Sengun dominated the paint, and the Rockets proved they aren’t done.

But the Lakers still have a championship pedigree. LeBron’s 29pt 13reb game 3 performance was a textbook example of how they dominated early on, holding Houston under 100 points in games 1-2.

Houston’s 30 fast-break points in Game 4 exposed defensive weaknesses. The Rockets are on a roll with momentum, and Game 5 is a must-win to avoid the unthinkable.

For the Rockets, it’s a chance to keep hope alive and potentially win the 3-0 deficit, which no one has ever been able to overcome in NBA history.

While the Rockets fight to stay alive, the Lakers may soon have some reinforcements heading their way.

Lakers’ Stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves Will Return On-Court In No Time

Recently, the playoff series held 3-1 Lakers against Houston; the Lakers' lead was unexpected, given their current injury report. They made it without the Lakers’ star Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who are both injured.

Fortunately, Doncic is just 10 to 14 days away from getting back on the court.

He won’t be able to play alongside the Lakers against the Houston Rockets, but if they can win the series, he’ll surely have a chance to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Reaves is close to playing against the Rockets. He could return as early as Game 5 or Game 6. Expect high tension on Wednesday as the Lakers attempt to close the series.

Will the Lakers close it out, or will the Rockets keep the fight alive? Drop your predictions for Game 5 in the comments below.

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Utsav Gupta