Avoid sweep: Rockets beat Lakers 115-96 in Game 4
- Houston beat Los Angeles 115-96 in Game 4 on Sunday, with Amen Thompson scoring 23 points as the Rockets stayed alive in the series. - Tari Eason added 20 points, Houston forced 23 Lakers turnovers, and the Rockets outscored Los Angeles 34-18 in the third quarter. - The Lakers still lead 3-1, with Game 5 set for Wednesday in Los Angeles. (nba.com)
The Houston Rockets kept their season alive Sunday, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 in Game 4 and cutting the series deficit to 3-1. (espn.com) (nba.com) Amen Thompson led Houston with 23 points and seven assists, and Tari Eason added 20 points in a balanced Rockets attack. (espn.com) (nba.com) Houston broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 34-18 after taking a 56-47 lead into halftime. The Rockets finished with 17 steals and turned 23 Lakers turnovers into a blowout. (espn.com) (basketball-reference.com) The Lakers never got their offense moving. LeBron James scored 10 points with nine assists and eight turnovers, while Los Angeles shot 5-for-22 from 3-point range. (espn.com) Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura scored 13. Austin Reaves did not play because of a left oblique injury. (espn.com) Houston was still without Kevin Durant, who missed his third straight game, but got enough scoring from across the rotation to avoid a first-round sweep. Dillon Brooks scored 17, Alperen Sengun had 19, and Jabari Smith Jr. added 16. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The result snapped Houston’s 0-3 hole after the Lakers won the first three games, including a 112-108 overtime victory in Game 3 on April 24. (espn.com) (nba.com) Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the Lakers still one win from ending the series. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)
