Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. isn't letting the series record influence how he evaluates his team in comparison to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Houston Rockets’ season is on the line. Their 1-3 status against the Los Angeles Lakers is one of the concerns.

Rockets stars Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. took shots at the Lakers’ older roster, highlighting Houston’s youth and recovery edge ahead of Game 5 against LeBron James and company.

Houston has one final advantage over Los Angeles down three games to one.

Austin Reaves said Tuesday he is "trending in the right direction" amid rehab from the oblique injury that has sidelined him for the first four games of the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

About midway through the third quarter of Game 4, James once again was guarded by an attackable defender, this time Şengün. Once again, Smith came over to help, creating a theoretical advantage. James chose to find Deandre Ayton with a high pass, with only Rockets small forward Tari Eason in the paint and on Ayton’s back.

The Los Angeles Lakers, up 3-1, are still in control of the series despite dropping Game 4 to the Houston Rockets. Houston responded with a 115-96 win at Toyota Center to avoid the sweep, but the focus now shifts to Game 5 in Los Angeles,

Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün says the Los Angeles Lakers should brace for a more physical Game 5 when their first-round series continues Wednesday night in Los Angeles.