Rockets avoid sweep in Game 4
- Houston beat Los Angeles 115-96 in Game 4 on Sunday night, with Amen Thompson scoring 23 points to keep the first-round series alive. - Tari Eason added 20 points, all five Houston starters scored at least 16, and LeBron James finished with 10 points and eight turnovers. - The Lakers still lead 3-1, and Game 5 is Wednesday, April 29, in Los Angeles on ESPN. (nba.com)
Houston kept its season alive Sunday night, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 in Game 4 to avoid a first-round sweep. (nba.com) (espn.com) Amen Thompson scored 23 points, Tari Eason added 20, and Houston got at least 16 points from every starter at Toyota Center. (nba.com) (espn.com) Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points, Reed Sheppard scored 17, and Jabari Smith Jr. added 16 as Houston posted its first win of the series. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The Rockets played without Kevin Durant again because of a sprained left ankle, his third absence of the series after he also missed Game 1 with a bruised right knee. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Los Angeles never got its offense going. LeBron James scored 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting, handed out nine assists, and committed eight turnovers. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) The Lakers made five 3-pointers after hitting a combined 35 in the first three games, and center Deandre Ayton was ejected in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2. (nba.com) (espn.com) Houston’s response came two days after it lost Game 3 in overtime, a collapse that turned a late lead into a 3-0 series deficit. (nba.com) The series now shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29, at 10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, with the Lakers still leading 3-1. (nba.com) (nba.com)
