04/26/26 11:28:00
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04/26 23:27 CDT Amen Thompson sparks Rockets' 115-96 rout to stave off
elimination against Lakers
Amen Thompson sparks Rockets' 115-96 rout to stave off elimination against
Lakers
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Amen Thompson scored 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 and the
Houston Rockets avoided elimination with a 115-96 rout of the Los Angeles
Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
The Rockets got their first win in the series after falling into an 0-3 hole
despite missing Kevin Durant for a third game thanks to a balanced scoring
attack. Durant sat out a second straight game with a sprained left ankle after
missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee.
Houston's entire starting lineup scored at least 16 points with Alperen Sengun
adding 19, Reed Sheppard 17 and Jabari Smith Jr. 16.
The Lakers were led by Deandre Ayton, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds before
being ejected with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter for a flagrant
foul 2 on a hit to Sengun's head. His output wasn't nearly enough to allow the
Lakers to close the series out on a night when LeBron James didn't have his
best game.
He had 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting with nine assists and eight turnovers
before sitting with about 7 minutes to go after scoring 19, 28 and 29 points
in the first three games. But he wasn't the only Laker who struggled. Los
Angeles made just five 3-pointers after combining for 35 through the first
three games.
James was 0 for 3 from long range, Marcus Smart missed both of his attempts and
Luke Kennard was 0 for 3.
Houston looked good from the start in this one after squandering a six-point
lead in the final 26 seconds of regulation in a devastating 112-108 overtime
loss Friday night.
The Rockets led by nine at halftime and used a 12-4 run to start the third and
make it 68-51 with about 8 minutes to go in the quarter.
Sheppard had two 3-pointers in that stretch and Thompson added four points.
The Rockets led by 19 later in the quarter before going on a 9-3 run to end the
quarter and push the lead to 90-65 entering the fourth.
Houston led by 23 with about 7 minutes remaining when coach JJ Redick cleared
the Lakers' bench.
Ayton was ejected with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter after
receiving a flagrant foul 2 for hitting Sengun in the face with his elbow and
forearm. The referee announcing the foul called the contact "unnecessary and
excessive."
Durant was on the bench Sunday night to support his team after he was absent
Friday night because coach Ime Udoka said he was receiving treatment on his
injured ankle.
___
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