From The Sports Desk: Staying alive

April 30, 2026 - 20:14

The Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons each stared down the end of their seasons on Thursday night and blinked last. Both teams, facing a 3-1 series deficit, dug in at home to stave off elimination and send their first-round playoff series back on the road for a sixth game.

In Houston, the Rockets rode a relentless defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack to a 112-98 win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Jalen Green led the way with 27 points, while Alperen Sengun added a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds. The Rockets forced 18 turnovers and held the Thunder to just 40 percent shooting from the field, quieting a normally explosive offense. Houston now heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 6, needing to win two more to pull off the upset.

Across the league in Detroit, the Pistons showed similar grit. They overcame a slow start to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-101, keeping their season alive. Cade Cunningham was the engine, posting 30 points and 10 assists, while Jaden Ivey chipped in 24 off the bench. The Pistons clamped down in the fourth quarter, limiting Cleveland to 19 points. The series now shifts back to Cleveland for Game 6, where the Cavaliers will try to close it out on home floor.

Both teams now face the same challenge: win on the road or pack it in. For the Rockets and Pistons, the margin for error is gone. But for one night at least, they earned the right to keep playing.