Amen Thompson powers Rockets’ rout of Lakers to stave off elimination

In a pivotal Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series, Amen Thompson delivered a standout performance to help the Houston Rockets avoid elimination against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets secured a 115-96 victory at Toyota Center on Sunday night, forcing a Game 5 in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Thompson scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while adding four rebounds and seven assists. His effort was part of a balanced scoring attack that saw every Rockets starter score at least 16 points, with Alperen Sengun contributing 19, Reed Sheppard 17, and Jabari Smith Jr. 16.

The victory came despite the absence of Kevin Durant, who sat out his second consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle after missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee. Durant’s unavailability highlighted the Rockets’ depth, as they managed to overcome a 0-3 series deficit through collective effort.

On the Lakers’ side, LeBron James struggled offensively, scoring just 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting with nine assists and eight turnovers before being sidelined with about 7½ minutes remaining in the game. James had previously scored 19, 28, and 29 points in the first three games of the series.

Defensively, the Rockets limited the Lakers to just five 3-pointers in Game 4, a significant drop from their combined 35 made from beyond the arc in the first three games. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard both missed their three-point attempts, going 0-for-2 and 0-for-3 respectively, while James was 0-for-3 from long range.

A turning point in the game came in the third quarter, where the Rockets outscored the Lakers 34-18. Houston built a 19-point lead during the quarter and extended it to 28 points by the end of the period, setting the tone for the decisive victory.

The Lakers suffered a setback when center Deandre Ayton was ejected with approximately 5½ minutes left in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 on a hit to Alperen Sengun’s head. Ayton had contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds prior to his ejection.

Thompson’s performance was highlighted by a notable athletic play in the fourth quarter, where he extended his arm to catch a high pass from Sengun before finishing with a reverse lay-in, leaving Kennard unable to contest the shot. The play was widely shared on social media as a display of his athleticism.

Despite losing the first three games, the Rockets have now kept their playoff hopes alive, with Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday night in Los Angeles. The team will look to build on their balanced attack and defensive effort as they attempt to overcome the 3-1 deficit in the series.

As the series shifts to Los Angeles, the Rockets will aim to continue their momentum, relying on the contributions of their entire roster to challenge the Lakers and force a potential Game 6 back in Houston.

For ongoing updates on the Rockets-Lakers playoff series, fans can follow official NBA channels and team announcements for the latest developments.