Houston Rockets defeated Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 in Jogo 4 of the Conferência Oeste first round series, earning their first victory and taking a 3-1 lead in the series. The rout took place on Sunday, with the decisive game scheduled for Wednesday on Los Angeles.
LeBron James acknowledged the disastrous performance after the match ended. The Lakers star committed eight turnovers and scored just ten points, converting 2 of 9 shots (22.2%). “Obviously, it all started with me. Meus turnovers were unacceptable,” stated James, reflecting on his performance in the loss.
Terceiro room sets the result
Los Angeles Lakers played evenly in the first half, trailing by just nine points at halftime. Porém, Houston Rockets completely dominated the third quarter, winning the period 34 to 18 and practically defining the confrontation. James was one of the main responsible for the collapse, committing four turnovers in the partial and missing all three shots he attempted.
In the final quarter, when Rockets were already winning by 24 points, James finally scored as they approached the regular break. The basket was just cosmetic, with the result already decided and Los Angeles’s team having lost one of their best players of the night:
- Deandre Ayton, who had a solid performance, was sent off in the third quarter
- The expulsion happened with 5:41 left in the period
- Ayton received a level 2 flagrant foul for hitting center Alperen Sengun with his forearm
- The penalty was changed from a common foul to a flagrant one after a video review
Controvérsia on Ayton’s expulsion
The referees’ decision to eject Deandre Ayton generated negative reactions. The pivot himself defended his action during the match, arguing that the contact was accidental. “We were both sweating a lot. Meu’s arm just slipped off his shoulder. Eu I’m not a dirty player or one who plays like that,” explained Ayton in the locker room.
LeBron James also questioned the expulsion. Segundo the star of Lakers, Ayton was just preparing for the normal physical confrontation. “I think he was preparing for Sengun in the post, his elbow was ready for physical contact and then you see, his arm slipped on the way up and hit him in the head,” James reported, suggesting there was no intent in the play.
Até even Alperen Sengun, the Rockets player who took the hit, agreed that the expulsion was too strict. Sengun scored 19 points and 13 rebounds, an important contribution for Rockets, who played without Kevin Durant due to an ankle injury. “I don’t want to piss off the refs, but to be honest, I didn’t expect them to kick him out. Acho that was a little light,” said Sengun.
Série of technical faults increases tension
Após expelled Ayton, the arbitration maintained a strict tone. Cinco technical fouls were called in the final minutes: three for Lakers and two for Rockets. Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero were committed by Los Angeles’s team, while Josh Okogie and Aaron Holiday were committed by Houston’s team.
Thiero, a new player, was sent off for a technical foul along with Aaron Holiday. The pair argued with each other with just 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the match. LeBron James harshly criticized the decision. “That was unnecessary and didn’t make any sense. Acho that was the first time in his life that he was kicked out of a game. Não I think that was justified,” said the star.
The situation gained internal repercussions when Lakers’s star, Luka Doncic, looked for Thiero in the locker room after the match. Doncic offered to pay any fine the NBA could impose for the technical infraction, as a gesture of solidarity with his teammate.
Provocações post-game
Tension between the two teams continued after the final whistle. Vários Lakers players reported to the press that Jae’Sean Tate, Rockets’s wingman, mocked the team using profanity and provoking Maxi Kleber for a possible fight. Marcus Smart, Lakers’s point guard, was ironic when commenting on the exchange of barbs. “Hilarious. Muito hilarious,” Smart responded when asked about the taunts.
The series returns on Wednesday at Los Angeles, with Rockets able to close the match at Jogo 5. Os Lakers need to win to keep the possibility of qualifying alive, facing a critical scenario after Sunday’s defeat.