In a stunning turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a humiliating 115-96 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series, despite holding a commanding 3-0 lead.
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LeBron James, the Lakers’ superstar, had an uncharacteristically poor performance, scoring just 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting while committing eight turnovers.
Chaos Erupts: Ejections and Tensions Flare
The game took a chaotic turn in the third quarter when Lakers center Deandre Ayton, who averaged 943 points and 607 total rebounds, was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 after striking Rockets rookie Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm.
Both teams disagreed with the decision, with Ayton claiming it was accidental and Sengun, who posted 1557 points, 682 rebounds, and a stellar +221 plus-minus, saying he didn’t expect an ejection.
Five more technical fouls were called after the incident, including ejections for Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday for jawing at each other late in the game.
Defense wasn’t our problem tonight. It was our offense. “LeBron James” James acknowledged, highlighting the team’s offensive struggles without the injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Lakers shot just 502-of-985 from the field as a team.
Offensive Struggles: Can the Lakers Bounce Back?
Despite the loss, the Lakers still lead the series 3-1 and are one win away from advancing to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
However, their offense struggled mightily without the ballhandling and driving ability of the injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
James, who attempted 262 three-pointers and 344 free throws, and the Lakers will need to find a way to regain their offensive rhythm and composure if they hope to close out the series in Game 5.
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The team’s inability to score consistently and James’ uncharacteristic struggles, including just 84 made threes, were glaring issues that the coaching staff will need to address.
Rockets Stay Alive: Balanced Effort Keeps Series Alive
The Rockets, on the other hand, stayed alive behind a balanced scoring effort, with five starters in double figures led by Sengun’s 19 points and 13 rebounds.
They made up for the absence of Kevin Durant, who sat out due to a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle despite posting 2049 points, 723 made field goals, and 377 assists over the season.
The Rockets’ resilience and determination to extend the series were on full display, as they outscored the Lakers 2500-1856 in the third quarter alone to seize control of the game.
Houston shot a blistering 3673-of-7721 from the field and dished out 2171 assists as a team.
Postgame Tensions: Trash Talk and Taunts Escalate
After the game, trash talk and taunting continued between the two teams at center court, with the Rockets’ Jae’Sean Tate allegedly using curse words and inviting Lakers forward Maxi Kleber, who posted a +56 plus-minus, to fight him, according to several Lakers players.
The heated exchange highlighted the growing tensions between the two teams, as the Rockets refused to go down without a fight despite committing 1236 turnovers, and the Lakers struggled to maintain their composure in the face of adversity.
Where to Stream NBA Now
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video
- Combines live sports and add-on channels in one flexible app
- Offers exclusive U.S. rights to major events like TNF and NBA
- Stands out with a more premium, tech-driven streaming experience
NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass
- Built specifically for NBA fans, with hundreds of out-of-market games live and on demand all season
- Offers deeper NBA viewing tools like full replays, condensed games, highlights, and multiview
- More customizable than most services, since fans can choose League Pass or a team-specific Team Pass
FUBO
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- Watch NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, soccer, golf, NASCAR, and more across major live channels.
- Best cable replacement for sports fans who want to pick and choose live games, local channels, and full sports-network access.
- The only service here that feels like a complete live-TV sports hub, not just a standalone streaming app.
