Rockets deny Lakers a sweep

The Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 in Game 4 on Sunday night, avoiding a first-round sweep and extending the series to Wednesday. (espn.com) (nba.com) Amen Thompson led Houston with 23 points, and Tari Eason added 20 as the Rockets built a 56-47 halftime lead and then pulled away with a 34-point third quarter. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Houston got its first win of the series while Kevin Durant missed a third straight game. The Lakers had opened the matchup with three consecutive wins, including a 112-108 overtime victory in Game 3 on April 24. (espn.com) (nba.com) The Lakers were the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference at 53-29, and the Rockets were No. 5 at 52-30. Through four games, Los Angeles still leads the series 3-1. (espn.com) (nba.com) Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, in Los Angeles. A Rockets win there would send the series back to Houston for a Game 6 on May 1. (nba.com) (sportingnews.com) Game 3 had put Houston on the brink, with LeBron James finishing that Lakers overtime win with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Game 4 flipped the script into Houston’s most lopsided result of the series. (nba.com) (espn.com) The margin Sunday was the biggest of the series so far: Houston won by 19 after losing the first three games by 9, 7 and 4 points. The Lakers now head home with a second chance to close it out. (nba.com) (espn.com)