How to watch the Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 2026 NBA Playoffs Game 6
Can the Rockets win a third-straight game to avoid being eliminated by LeBron and the Lakers?
On Friday, May 1, the Houston Rockets will have their backs against the wall one more time, but this time they will be at home. After dropping the first three games of their NBA Western Conference Playoff series to the Los Angeles Lakers, they have fought back to take the last two. Now, back at the Toyota Center, they must win yet again to stave off elimination. The action will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be exclusively broadcast on Prime Video. So, if you aren’t already a subscriber to the service or an Amazon Prime member, you can watch with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video.
How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- When: Friday, May 1, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: Prime Video
- Stream: Watch with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know to stream Rockets vs. Lakers:
What is the schedule of the Rockets vs. Lakers 2026 NBA Playoffs series?
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Matchup | Outlet(s)/Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 18 | Game 1 | 8:30 p.m. | Rockets at Lakers | Lakers 107, Rockets 98 |
| Tuesday, April 21 | Game 2 | 10:30 p.m. | Rockets at Lakers | Lakers 101, Rockets 94 |
| Friday, April 24 | Game 3 | 8 p.m. | Lakers at Rockets | Laker 112, Rockets 108 |
| Sunday, April 26 | Game 4 | 9:30 p.m. | Lakers at Rockets | Rockets 115, Lakers 96 |
| Wednesday, April 29 | Game 5 | 8 p.m. | Rockets at Lakers | Rockets 99, Lakers 93 |
| Friday, May 1 | Game 6 | 9:30 p.m. | Lakers at Rockets | TBA |
| Sunday, May 3 | Game 7^ | TBA | Rockets at Lakers | TBA |
^=if necessary
Why we recommend Prime Video to watch Cavaliers vs. Raptors
This one is pretty simple: We recommend you watch the Rockets vs. Lakers game on Prime Video because the Amazon-owned streamer has the exclusive rights to broadcast the game. Prime Video will have exclusive rights to some first and second-round playoff series, but it will not own any particular series, so the rest of the league’s broadcast partners will get into the mix on this series as well.
Can you watch Rockets vs. Lakers for free?
Yes, you can. Amazon offers new customers a 30-day free trial to Prime Video, so if you sign up via a new account, you will be able to watch all of the streamer’s playoff coverage without having to pay a penny. In addition, there is a decent chance that you might have access to Prime Video already, without even knowing it.
The streaming service comes as an included benefit with every Amazon Prime membership. So, if you are already getting free shipping from the online retailer, you already have access to Prime Video as well.
If not, you can sign up for a subscription for $9 per month, or ad-free for $14. However, considering that these games will include commercials, regardless of which plan you choose, I would go with the cheaper ad-supported option, which is just $15 per month for the full Amazon Prime experience.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.
Watch Rockets vs. Lakers Game 5 highlights
How to watch Rockets vs. Lakers from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action, no matter where you are in the world, with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to Prime Video in order to stream the game with a VPN.
ExpressVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get a month of service for as little as $5. ExpressVPN is the most-trusted VPN on the market and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, best-in-class encryption, 24-hour live support, and the best speeds available.
While ExpressVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Most Secure: NordVPN | Starting at $3.09 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available