Wednesday marked a critical point in the 2025 NBA Playoffs for several teams, with elimination on the line in two significant Game 5 contests.
The Houston Rockets successfully defended their home court, defeating the Golden State Warriors with a score of 131-116. This victory was crucial in forcing a Game 6 in their series. The Rockets established a significant early lead, ending the first quarter up 40-26, and managed to maintain control despite a late push from Golden State`s reserves. Fred VanVleet was the leading scorer for Houston with 26 points. Amen Thompson contributed significantly with 25 points and five steals, achieving a rare playoff stat line not seen since Charles Barkley in 1993 (25+ points, 5+ steals, 3+ blocks). For the Warriors, Moses Moody led the team with 19 points. Stephen Curry had a relatively quiet night, scoring just 13 points, his lowest output in a potential series-clinching game in his career. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday at the Chase Center.
In the second pivotal Game 5, the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Los Angeles Lakers` playoff run with a 103-96 victory. This win secured Minnesota`s spot in the Western Conference semifinals, where they await the winner of the Warriors-Rockets series. The Timberwolves are aiming for their second consecutive trip to the conference finals. Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant performance for Minnesota, recording 27 points and 24 rebounds, becoming only the second player in Timberwolves playoff history with a 20-point, 20-rebound game, joining Kevin Garnett. Luka Doncic was noted as the leading scorer for the Lakers with 28 points, adding 9 assists and 7 rebounds.
These results set the stage for the upcoming matchups and highlight key performances from the night.