From LeBron James’s uncharacteristic struggle to the controversial ejection that left both sides ‘scratching their heads,’ Yankee Scores has the full scoop on the most volatile game of the postseason so far.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has borne the brunt of the team’s 115-96 defeat in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series with the Houston Rockets on Sunday, after he committed almost as many turnovers (eight), as he scored points (10) in the blowout.
A Rare “Off-Night” for LeBron James
“It started with me, obviously,” James said after the Rockets notched their first win of the series to make it 3-1 heading into Wednesday’s Game 5 in Los Angeles. “My turnovers were unacceptable.”
The Lakers were down nine points at half-time but were pummeled 34-18 in the third quarter as James made four of his turnovers in the quarter and was 0-for-3 from the field. He finished the game 2-for-9 (22.2%) and didn’t score double figures until a meaningless layup with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter brought the Rockets’ lead to 24.
The Controversial Ayton Ejection
By that time, the game was already out of reach, with the Lakers having lost their only player having a good game, Deandre Ayton, to an ejection in the middle of the third quarter. Ayton was called for a flagrant foul 2 for hitting Rockets big man Alperen Sengun on the side of the head with his forearm with 5:41 left in the third.
The foul was upgraded from a common foul following a video review, a move that left both sides scratching their heads.
“We both are sweaty guys,” Ayton said. “[My arm] just slipped off his shoulder. … I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or who plays like that.”
“I know what I saw. … I think he was bracing for Sengun on the post up, [his] elbow [was] getting ready for the physical contact and then you see it, his arm slipped going up and then hit him in the head,” James added.
Ejections and Technicals
Even Sengun, who was one of five Houston starters to score in double figures (19 points and 13 rebounds), and was helping to fill in for Kevin Durant who missed the game with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle, was not convinced.
Five more technical fouls were called after that: three by the Lakers (Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, Adou Thiero) and two by the Rockets (Josh Okogie, Aaron Holiday). Thiero, a rookie, and Holiday were both ejected for one-tech fouls with 1:11 left in the game for jawing at each other.
“I don’t want to make the officials crazy, I didn’t expect them to eject him to be honest,” Sengun said. “It was a little bit soft. … I guess it is what it is, they called it. I’m glad they called it. So, we go from there.”
Locker Room Tension and Game 5 Heat
Lakers star Luka Doncic told Thiero in the locker room after the game that he would cover the fine the NBA will levy for the foul. Postgame trash talk continued between the two teams at center court. Lakers players told ESPN that Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate was trash talking them, name calling with curse words, and challenged the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Kleber to a fight.
Smart, who averaged 20.3 points on 52.9% shooting in the Lakers’ 3-0 series lead, scored just nine points on 3-for-8 shooting in Game 4.
Luke Kennard, who averaged 21.3 points on 55.3% to start the series, had seven points on 3-for-8 shooting. Austin Reaves, who was again sidelined by his Grade 2 left oblique strain despite being listed as questionable for the second consecutive game, could certainly help the Lakers’ offense
“That was uncalled for and it made no sense,” James said. “I think that’s the first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted.”
As poorly as the Lakers played Sunday, they remain one win away from advancing to the second round and a potential matchup with the defending champion OKC, who lead their series against the Sunds3-0.
“I’m licking my chops,” Ayton said of Game 5. “We just got to try to end this at home. But I love the intensity. I love the fight I see in the guys in the Rockets. I can’t wait to see them.”
