But he was cleared to play on Sunday and scored 27 points as the Spurs won 114-93 in Portland to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The NBA's defensive player of the year added 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals on returning and later admitted to being "very disappointed" with aspects of the NBA's concussion protocol.
"I won't get into the details," he said. "Ask me again at the end of the season."
The 22-year-old added: "I had lots of emotions before the game - excitement, frustration. I let it all out tonight."
The concussion protocol requires 48 hours of rest followed by a gradual return to physical activity and daily neurological tests.
A player must then be cleared by his team and the NBA's concussion programme director in order to resume playing.
De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 28 points for the Spurs, who are second seeds in the Western Conference and can clinch the series back in San Antonio on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers can do the same as they return home on Tuesday, with the Houston Rockets having won 115-96 to prevent the Lakers sweeping the series.
Kevin Durant (ankle) missed his third game of the series for Houston but all five of their starters reached double figures, with Amen Thompson scoring a game-high 23 points.
Joel Embiid made his first appearance of the series for Philadelphia but could not prevent the 76ers losing 128-96 at home to the Boston Celtics.
Boston's Payton Pritchard scored 32 points off the bench - a career high for the play-offs - while Jayson Tatum claimed 30 points and 11 assists.
The Celtics, the Eastern Conference's second seed, now lead 3-1 and can clinch the series in Boston on Tuesday.
Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes each scored 23 points as the Toronto Raptors held on for a 93-89 win at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Eastern Conference rivals are now level at 2-2, with game five taking place in Cleveland on Wednesday.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton walks off the court after being ejected in the third quarter of the Lakers' 115-96 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 on Sunday night. (Karen Warren / Associated Press)
Deandre Ayton has a simple explanation for his first career ejection.
“We’re both sweaty guys,” the Lakers center said after his accidental elbow to the back of Alperen Sengun's head resulted in his ejection from Sunday’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers center was assessed a flagrant foul 2 with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter of the 115-96 Game 4 loss. It “looked crazy on camera,” Ayton acknowledged, but it was not malicious.
Ayton said he was bracing for contact against the 6-foot-11, 243-pound Sengun and Ayton’s arm simply slipped off Sengun’s shoulder and hit his head. It didn’t affect Sengun at all: he finished with 19 points and six rebounds on six-of-12 shooting as the Rockets forced a Game 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PDT at Crypto.com Arena.
“I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or plays like that,” Ayton said. “If anything, me trying to play dirty, I’ll damn near hurt myself. I just hope he’s all right and they don’t think it was intentional.”
Sengun and Rockets coach Ime Udoka both said the flagrant 2 call — which characterizes an act as “unnecessary and excessive” — was “soft.” Sengun said he didn’t expect Ayton to be ejected for the play. When crew chief James Williams declared that Ayton would be sent off, the Lakers center simply dropped his head and walked to the locker room. Injured Rockets star Kevin Durant, who missed the game with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle, waved goodbye from the Rockets bench.
"We’re proud of the way he handled it, and I think that just speaks volume about who he is and his progression," Lakers guard Marcus Smart said. "He’s learning, he’s continuing — it probably would have been justifiable if he went off, right? But to keep his composure and stay positive, I think that’s only going to help him and this team.”
Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt (2) and Deandre Ayton (5) go up for a rebound against Houston forward Tari Eason during the first half Sunday. (Karen Warren / Associated Press)
It was the first time Ayton was ejected in his eight-year NBA career. The center, to the chagrin of many in the NBA, has long been known more for his finesse touch shots than physical play. Lakers coach JJ Redick called Ayton, “a sweet, just, like, kind soul.”
Lakers coaches and teammates have tried to encourage him to increase his intensity and aggressiveness. General manager Rob Pelinka even made a custom shirt with half of Ayton’s face next to the face of a lion.
Ayton answered the call Sunday with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of the Lakers’ only forms of consistent offense in the blowout loss. Outside of Ayton and Rui Hachimura, who shot six for 10 with 13 points, the Lakers were shooting 31.3% from the field in the first three quarters. They trailed by as many as 26 points as Smart and LeBron James, veterans who led the team to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, looked worn down with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) still sidelined.
“It’s been tough for DA,” said Smart, who had nine points, five assists and four turnovers. “We’ve been hard on him. He’s been hard on himself. You guys have been hard on him. ... He’s been taking it, embracing it and trying to get better and better. Today he showed that. He came out, we relied on him a little bit more. He made plays for us.”
Ayton soon had company in the Lakers locker room after teammate Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday were both ejected after receiving two technical fouls with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. They got tangled up under the basket and exchanged words briefly.
Thiero, who entered the game midway through the fourth quarter when the Lakers cleared their bench, made a memorable playoff debut by scoring his first postseason basket with an emphatic alley-oop dunk over Dorian Finney-Smith. But the premature ending to his first postseason appearance was “uncalled for,” James said.
“It made no sense,” said James, who had 10 points and nine assists but eight turnovers. “... I don't think that was warranted. Give him two technicals? The kid just got in the game.”
At the end of the physical game, players from both teams jawed back and forth at midcourt after the final buzzer. Much of the Lakers bench and some coaches approached to help diffuse the situation. Redick said he was simply poking his head into the situation the way people might turn their heads to gawk at commotion in a bar. When he determined nothing was happening, he left.
“Hilarious,” Smart said with a smirk of the postgame skirmish. “Very hilarious.”
Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Celtics -11.5; over/under is 215.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Celtics lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Celtics look to clinch the Eastern Conference first round over the Philadelphia 76ers in game five. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 128-96 in the last meeting on Sunday. Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 32 points, and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 26.
The Celtics are 36-16 against conference opponents. Boston leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.4 boards. Nikola Vucevic leads the Celtics with 8.4 rebounds.
The 76ers are 27-25 in conference play. Philadelphia ranks ninth in the NBA scoring 16.9 fast break points per game. VJ Edgecombe leads the 76ers averaging 8.0.
The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field this season, the same percentage the 76ers allow to opponents. The 76ers average 8.7 more points per game (115.9) than the Celtics give up to opponents (107.2).
TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum is averaging 19.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists over the past 10 games.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 118.0 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.0 points per game.
76ers: 4-6, averaging 104.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 20.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: None listed.
76ers: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -6.5; over/under is 213.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 2-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks visit the New York Knicks for game five of the Eastern Conference first round with the series tied 2-2. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 114-98 in the last meeting on Saturday. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 22 points, and CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 17.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York averages 116.5 points and has outscored opponents by 6.4 points per game.
The Hawks are 27-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is 7-8 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 12.9 per game the Hawks allow. The Hawks score 8.4 more points per game (118.5) than the Knicks allow (110.1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is shooting 46.7% and averaging 26.0 points for the Knicks. Anunoby is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Jalen Johnson is averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 113.5 points, 43.7 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.7 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 114.9 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.4 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Portland Trail Blazers (42-40, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -12.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Spurs lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs look to clinch the Western Conference first round over the Portland Trail Blazers in game five. The Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers 114-93 in the last meeting on Sunday. De'Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 28 points, and Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 26.
The Spurs are 36-16 in Western Conference games. San Antonio is third in the league averaging 119.8 points and is shooting 48.3% from the field.
The Trail Blazers are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Portland has a 23-18 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Spurs are shooting 48.3% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 47.1% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.5 points per game, 4.0 more than the 111.5 the Spurs allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. Fox is averaging 19.6 points over the last 10 games.
Avdija is averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jrue Holiday is averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 7-3, averaging 118.4 points, 46.3 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.1 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 110.8 points, 43.2 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Four on April 26, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There was lots to dislike about the Lakers’ performance in Game 4.
The offense looked stuck in mud. There was an alarming amount of turnovers and nearly all of them were live ball, which ruined any chance of a win. That will be discussed in the coming days on this site.
But I’d like to mention that god awful officiating. And not even in a sense of play-to-play calls or one player getting superstar calls or baiting officials. It was the big things that were just very dumb and bad.
First, Deandre Ayton being ejected was one of the crazier refereeing decisions I’ve seen this year. It was pretty clear what happened in that play with Ayton trying to brace himself and his arm slipped up Alperen Şengün’s back and into his head. It looked bad, but in the modern NBA, basically everyone agreed that it was a Flagrant 1.
Except James Williams, who threw Ayton out of the game for a Flagrant 2 foul. It was a decision that includes ignoring a large amount of context of the situation to come to that conclusion.
Then, he watched Marcus Smart get Draymond Green-ed and determined the kick was actually more to his thigh, so it’s fine? I’m sure if he had talked to Marcus, his high-pitched voice would have told him it wasn’t to his thigh.
He capped off his wonderful night by throwing out Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday in the final minutes because he needed to make sure everyone knew he was the star of the show. Thiero and Holiday were getting a little chippy under the basket, but it was Holiday entirely being the aggressor. It was a textbook away-from-the-play foul. In no scenario did that warrant an ejection.
The NBA has an officiating problem that badly needs addressed.
Anyway, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
This is up there with one of the worst games LeBron’s played as a Laker. The context of him being 41 years old coming up against a young, desperate Rockets side trying to avoid a sweep should be taken into account, but he was really, really bad.
Rui had a pretty decent night offensively, but Houston and Amen Thompson were able to exploit his lack of foot speed defensively. Amen is in a good rhythm the last two games and the Lakers will need to adapt.
Ayton is the only one who can really come away from this one with his head held high. He had a pretty egregious turnover to end the first quarter but he also looked like the only way who gave a damn before his ejection.
While Smart had some ugly turnovers — including replicating his early-season faux pas by not stepping out of bounds to inbound the ball — and a couple of plays that made it look like the minutes from Friday were catching up with him, he was also racing around the court as well. You can’t fault the effort. You can fault the execution.
While Luke had a couple of nice moments early in the game, overall, he came back down to Earth in the two games in Houston. He’s in an outsized role and being asked to do a lot, in his defense. Hopefully a return home will help him bounce back.
I get that LaRavia is another player in an outsized role, but, man, this has been a really brutal postseason for him. And this was his best game of the playoffs, too. His length and defense is keeping him in the rotation, but it’s getting hard to justify him getting many minutes.
We went back to the version of Hayes that was jumping at pump fakes and committing some really bad fouls. This was a rough game. Again, role players tend to play better at home, so hopefully there’s a bounce back game coming.
Vando’s stat line is a little bit of fool’s gold because most of his scoring came in garbage time. Seeing him moving around the baseline and in the paint was interesting, but it’s hard to use him that way with an actual center on the court.
This was easily the most comfortable Bronny looked this season. He did a great job being a connecting piece offensively in the first half. He attacked closeouts, found the open player and chased down loose balls. His second stint was warranted, even if it bled into garbage time.
Grade: B+
Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Maxi Kleber
Nothing much from this group. Adou had a nice alley-oop finish and Knecht hit a three. But it all came in garbage time.
JJ Redick
Well, JJ, the ball is now in your court. After three wins, the Lakers are now the team that will have to make adjustments. The offense hasn’t looked good for six quarters now and that’s to speak nothing of the rampant turnover issues.
After scheming their way into big games for Kennard and Smart, the pair have been held in check the last couple of contests. The Lakers need them, so can JJ get them going again?
They’ll need to in order to finish off this series. Also, for the love of everything holy, stop having LaRavia bring the ball up the court.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You can’t fake desperation. The Rockets fought hard in Game 3, but lost and were down 3-0 entering Game 4. With their season on the line, Houston decided they’d rather head back to LA instead of clearing out their lockers as they demolished the Lakers, 115-96.
The Rockets got offensive contributions from their top players with Alperen Şengün finishing with 19 points and Amen Thompson with 23. What made this performance even more gutsy for Houston was that they won despite Kevin Durant not playing, as he remains out with a sprained ankle.
They showed some fight, earned a win with the kind of ease many expected from them before this series began.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the blowout loss…
Smoke and mirrors aren’t enough
So far, the Lakers have gotten unusual performances, and it’s led to wins. Luke Kennard scored 27 points in Game 1 and Marcus Smart had 25 in Game 2. In Game 3, the Rockets collapsed, and the Lakers won in overtime.
All of this was unexpected, admirable and inspiring. It’s also unsustainable.
I said after Game 3 that the second-half struggles felt like the Lakers' offense hitting the limit of their functionality w/o Luka & Austin. Ditto tonight. It's obviously not an argument for rushing either back, but rather indicative of a margin for error that keeps shrinking. AK
On Sunday, a hard dose of reality hit the Lakers. Los Angeles couldn’t get any threes off and when they took them, they bricked. They ended the night going 5-22 from deep.
LeBron James showed his age. He looked exhausted and sleptwalked through the game, ending the night with just 10 points on 2-9 shooting.
With few other options, the Lakers’ offense had no one else who could step up and produce, and the game essentially ended early in the second half.
This was an elimination game for Houston, and LA has shown it responds well to adversity and adjusts.
However, this offensive display was concerning, and even before this, they hadn’t exactly been elite in that department. Through three games, LA has an offensive rating of 110.3, which is middle of the pack in the playoffs. It hasn’t cost them a result until now. Hopefully, it’s not a precursor of what’s to come.
Lakers will get good center play in the postseason
One player who did have a good game until his night ended prematurely was Deandre Ayton. He was doing a great job in the pick-and-roll and had 10 rebounds and went 9-12 from the field, scoring 19 points.
BRONNY JAMES WITH THE PERFECTLY PLACED ALLEY-OOP TO DEANDRE AYTON FROM THE BASELINE! 💪
Throughout this series, there have been times when Lakers head coach JJ Redick has gone with Jaxson Hayes and pulled Ayton when he isn’t playing well. He did this in Game 2 when Hayes caught a nice groove in the fourth quarter and did it again late in the fourth in Game 3.
Redick also closed with Ayton in Game 1 and Game 3 in overtime, so it’s not like he isn’t using his starting big during big moments.
Ayton seemed frustrated with his role earlier this season, but he’s responded well afterward. In this series, he’s bounced back well from mediocre performances, and he did that again here in Game 4.
If the Lakers are going to win this series and make any kind of extended run, they’ll need Ayton. He is more skilled than Hayes and LA needs his size on the floor. Game 4 provided a template he can build on.
Unfortunately, his night ended early after his elbow to Şengün was deemed a flagrant 2, resulting in his ejection from the game. The good news is that he played well and Lakers fans know that even if Ayton has an off game, Redick can go to Hayes and can also trust that Ayton can handle it well and stay ready when his next opportunity comes.
So, no matter how things are going, Redick will have a viable option at the five spot in every game.
This wasn’t the case last year, and it was one of the many reasons they played only five playoff games. This year, they might once again play five games in the first round, but only because they can win this series on Wednesday.
Sharpen the saw before you chop wood
Phil Jackson liked a Zen saying that goes, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” This means that one must stay focused on the task at hand rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Well, I want to add to that and say that before you chop the wood, one must sharpen the sword. After three quarters of play, the Lakers trailed the Rockets 90-65. It was clear the game was over. Well, for everyone minus Redick.
As an ardent JJ defender, there's genuinely no reason for LeBron to be on the floor to start the fourth, let alone any of the other starters
Despite the clear blowout and loss in hand, he decided to still play his starters for one more shift in the fourth. I understand the desire to fight and the struggle to concede a game when 25% of the contest remains to be played.
However, this is a long battle and it’s not just about one game. LA was up 3-0 and clearly didn’t have it going to make it a sweep.
It would’ve been better and wiser to rest the guys and fight another day. Entering Game 4, LeBron, Kennard, and Rui Hachimura all averaged 41-plus minutes per game. This trio is in the top five for most minutes played in the playoffs.
If rest is available for them, Redick should’ve given it to them. Luckily, this loss didn’t also feature injury. If it did, Redick would’ve gotten torn to shreds, and it would’ve been justified.
Hopefully, the Lakers aren’t in another waive the white flag scenario this postseason, but if they are, it’d be nice if Redick gives the guys who’ve earned it a moment to get a breather.
HOUSTON — 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 5½ 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 7½ 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 8½ 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 7½ minutes remaining when coach JJ Redick cleared the Lakers’ bench.
Ayton was ejected with about 5½ 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.
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and Houston guard Amen Thompson chase after the ball during the Lakers' loss in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs Sunday. (Karen Warren / Associated Press)
The Lakers still have control of this first-round series, even after the blow they took from the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
As ugly as their 115-96 loss was, the Lakers still hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference series.
All the Lakers have to do is win Game 5 on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena and they will advance to the second round.
But they will have to play better than they did in Game 4.
LeBron James, who played a stellar 45 minutes during the Lakers’ overtime win Friday night, wasn’t as spry. He had just 10 points, reaching double figures on a floater with 8:37 left and the Lakers down 26.
He was just two for nine from the field and he had eight turnovers. James also had nine assists and became the first player in NBA history to record 3,000 field goals in the playoffs.
Luke Kennard was quiet with seven points, and Marcus Smart had nine, both on three-for-eight shooting. Rui Hachimura had 13 points on six-for-10 shooting.
As James iced his knees in the locker room after the game, he said the Lakers can't afford to underestimate the Rockets.
“Hell naw, there is no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done,” James said. “Naw, none of us are.”
The bigger concern was the Lakers' inability to take care of the ball. They turned it over 24 times, their most in the series, and they've had 20 or more in three of the four games.
All of Houston's starters scored in double figures. Amen Thompson had 23 points and seven assists, and Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points and six rebounds.
But it was the Lakers' miscues that stood out the most.
“Obviously we know coming into the series we have to protect the ball and not have too many pick-sixes, which we did all night,” James said. “It started with me. Obviously my turnovers are unacceptable. But we’ll do a better job with that on Wednesday. We understand that offensive rebounds for them and pick-sixes is not going to be good for our ballclub. You give credit where credit is due. They won the game tonight.”
When the Lakers went down by 17 points in the third quarter on a Thompson basket that was part of Houston’s 12-4 run to open the frame, Lakers coach JJ Redick called a timeout to allow his players to collect themselves.
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket over Houston's Reed Sheppard, left, and Alperen Sengun during the first half Sunday. (Karen Warren / Associated Press)
It didn't help, as the Lakers' deficit swelled to 26 points.
It got harderfor the Lakers when Deandre Ayton was ejected midway through the quarter because of a flagrant foul for his left elbow striking Sengun on the side of the head.
Ayton was having one of his best games in the playoffs, bouncing back from two quiet efforts to post 19 points and 10 rebounds before he was ejected with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
“I was really just trying to brace for the contact with Sengun and we both are sweaty guys,” Ayton said. “I just slipped off his shoulder. My elbow hit him right there above the shoulder. It looked crazy on camera, but I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or who plays like that.”
Austin Reaves shot before the game in an attempt to play for the first time since being injured April 2 at Oklahoma City, and again he was downgraded from questionable to out because of a left oblique muscle strain.
In the end, the Lakers saw no need to rush Reaves back considering how they had dominated the series. Two days off before Game 5 will give Reaves more time to get healthy.
“It's fair to consider everything,” Redick said. “Austin and I had a conversation yesterday for a long time, and I think ultimately the athlete has to feel confidence, and that's always the final hurdle coming back from an injury, is the psychological component of it.”
For the Rockets, Kevin Durant missed his third game of the series because of a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle.
Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) continues to work out on the court, but there's no timetable for his return.
"[He] was able to move a little bit today on the court, which, you know, most of the stuff had been stand-still," Redick said. "So he's progressing, but no update on any timeline or anything like that.”
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) grabs a rebound during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
On the heels of a grueling Game 3 win, the Lakers came out flat and were subsequently routed by the Rockets, 115-96.
From the jump, it was pretty clear the Lakers didn’t have the right level of effort and played as such throughout. LA turned the ball over a staggering 23 times with the Rockets tallying 17 steals and 30 points off turnovers.
On the possession where they didn’t turn it over, they weren’t connecting on outside shots, going only 5-22, including some garbage time makes. Across the board, it was a lackluster showing for the Lakers, who looked like a team eager to get back to LA and finish the series in Game 5.
Rui Hachimura and Reed Sheppard exchanged midrange jumpers to open the game. LA built a lead of five early, with Luke Kennard leading the team with three points. Three other starters had two points each. Houston had four players with two points.
At the 6:28 mark, Los Angeles was up by three.
LeBron James was now leading LA with six points with Kennard close behind with five. There were a lot of foul calls between the teams, with Los Angeles making seven of their nine free-throw attempts and Houston making three of four.
The purple and gold were up by three at the 3:53 mark.
After a quick four-point surge, the Rockets jumped ahead by one. A layup by Jake LaRavia put the Lakers back in the lead. Jaxson Hayes had rough minutes, picking up two fouls.
Houston retook the lead by five at the end of the first.
The Rockets lead the Lakers 26-21 after one quarter of play. LA's offense is nonexistent. They went 7-18 from the field and haven't made a three.
Jabari Smith Jr. further extended the Rockets’ lead by draining a triple to start the second period. The Lakers already had eight turnovers with Houston playing defense. The Rockets continued their desperate, strong play, extending their lead to 10.
LA was struggling from behind the arc, shooting 17%.
A sudden 10-3 scoring run found Los Angeles down by three, after Houston had built a lead as big as 10. Jake LaRavia, who had been having a tough series, had a much-needed six points off the bench.
Deandre Ayton had a strong quarter, scoring 12 points, trying to keep the Lakers close enough. At halftime, the Rockets had a nine-point lead.
The Rockets lead 57-46 at the half. Deandre Ayton is the only Laker who has it going. He went 7-9 from the field and has 15 points.
Amen Thompson started the third period with a layup for Houston. Sheppard then knocked down a triple to make it a quick 14-point lead.
LA missed all three of its shot attempts. Marcus Smart then stole the ball, and it led to a layup by Kennard. Sheppard then drained yet another triple in response.
The Rockets continued to play with serious desperation, overwhelming Los Angeles, who now found themselves down by 17. Ayton was the only saving grace for the Lakers as he was now up to 19 points after scoring another four points.
In a ridiculous turn of events, Ayton was ejected with 5:41 left after making contact with the back of Alperen Şengün’s head, which was deemed a Flagrant 2 foul.
Everything spiraled from there as the Lakers continued to turn the ball over and the Rockets kept making them pay, building their lead to 25 points at the end of the third.
LA did start the final frame a little better offensively with Jarred Vanderbilt notching four points, but the deficit was too large.
With 7:25 left, the Lakers waved the white flag. With 1:11 left, the ejections continued with Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday getting tossed because it was important for everyone to remember the refs were the important part of this game.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 10 points, four rebounds and nine assists but shot just 2-9 from the field and had eight turnovers. Ayton was the Lakers’ best player prior to his ejection, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Hachimura pitched in with 13 points and three rebounds. Kennard ended with seven points and three rebounds. LaRavia scored six points off the bench.
Marcus Smart logged nine points with two rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks. Vanderbilt put up eight points largely in garbage time.
Game 4 will be on Sunday against the Houston Rockets at 6:30 PM PT.
With 1.3 seconds left in a decided game, Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels made a layup. That was well within the rules and nobody was going to get injured, but it violated an unwritten rule in the NBA — and Nikola Jokic took exception. Jokic sprinted down court (maybe the fastest he ran all game) to get in McDaniels' face, and there was a minor altercation. Jokic, as well as Minnesota's Julius Randle, were ejected.
Tensions were high at the end of Game 4 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves
Both Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. pic.twitter.com/U7Pg8ULO1J
On Sunday, the league came down and fined Jokic $50,000 for instigating the incident and Randle for escalating it. From the league's release announcing the fines:
"Jokic initiated the incident by confronting and shoving Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. Randle escalated the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum and shoving Nuggets guard-forward Bruce Brown."
Neither player was suspended, and both will play in Game 5 on Monday in Denver. The league also chose not to fine several players who left their bench area during the altercation, a group that included Aaron Gordon and Jonas Valančiūnas.
The Timberwolves lead the series 3-1, and it may be frustration over that — and the fact that Rudy Gobert has played fantastic defense on Jokic and made him work for everything — that led Jokic to confront McDaniels that way. Denver needs to win three straight to advance, a tall task, but Minnesota lost starters Anthony Edwards (knee bone bruise) and Donte DiVincenzo (torn Achilles) in Game 4.
NEW YORK — Denver’s Nikola Jokic was fined $50,000 and Minnesota’s Julius Randle was fined $35,000 for their roles in an altercation near the end of Game 4 of the teams’ playoff series, the NBA announced Sunday.
Both will be eligible to play when the series resumes Monday with Game 5 in Denver.
The incident was evidently sparked when Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels took an uncontested layup with 2.1 seconds left and the Timberwolves already leading by 14 — a play the Nuggets took exception to, given how the game had been decided.
Jokic, the NBA said, “initiated the incident by confronting and shoving” McDaniels in reaction to that play. Randle, the league said, “escalated the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum and shoving Nuggets guard-forward Bruce Brown.”
Jokic and Randle were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.
“He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokic said. “You guys saw what happened.”
The teams are meeting in the postseason for the third time in the last four years. Minnesota leads the series 3-1, but will be without guard Donte DiVincenzo for the rest of the season because of a torn Achilles and will be without fellow guard Anthony Edwards indefinitely because of a knee injury. DiVincenzo and Edwards both got hurt on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings: Tyrese Maxey – 23.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Celtics put the Sixers on the brink of elimination with a 128-96 victory on Sunday, claiming a 3-1 series lead as the teams head back to Boston for Game 5.
The Celtics three-point barrage was firing on all cylinders and their defensive gameplan all but suffocated the Sixers in the first half. By the time the Sixers found an offensive rhythm, the Celtics were hitting threes consistently, with most of the damage coming off the bench. Payton Pritchard notched a game-high six threes and 32 points.
There was not much to sort through for Bell Ringer-worthy performances.
The big fella is the Bell Ringer tonight with a clear case over everyone else. The Celtics came out with a defensive intensity for which most of the Sixers were not ready. It just so happens the man just a little over two weeks removed from an appendectomy was able to withstand Boston’s energy and produce on the offensive end.
He opened the game immediately attacking Neemias Queta and drawing two early fouls to force him to the bench. He notched the team’s first field goal converting a transition dunk following a Paul Goerge steal and continued playing forcefully against Nikola Vucevic tallying the first eight points for the Sixers in his return.
Unfortunately, everywhere Embiid looked for help on offense, he got none. That is, at least for the first half, as Tyrese Maxey did spring to life offensively in the second half after only taking three shots by halftime. Paul George went 2-for-7 from the field in the first half, and VJ Edgecombe continued to struggle from deep. Embiid’s ability to draw fouls and his gravity were the only sources of offense for long stretches. By halftime, the Sixers had only 38 points.
In the third, the Sixers began hitting shots but were unable to get stops on the other end. Embiid found his touch from the midrange and even hit a straight ahead three-pointer. He went 6-for-11 from the field in the second half and theoretically shook off the rust. Despite the poor shooting night from the team, Embiid corralled only two offensive rebounds, and did not provide enough of a barrier to the Celtics’ persistent offensive rebounding.
Given it was his first game back, and that he played 34 minutes, it was a commendable outing for Embiid. However, a more polished performance may be the only thing to keep the Sixers from elimination.
The aftermath of the Nikola Jokic and Jaden McDaniels moment at the end of Game 4 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets has settled, but it is still worth unpacking. If you missed it, McDaniels broke one of basketball’s quiet codes. When the game is decided and the clock is bleeding out, you do not go hunting for an easy bucket.
That is exactly what he did.
After a dominant showing at the Target Center that pushed Minnesota to a 3-1 series lead, McDaniels finished a late layup to make it 112-96. Nikola Jokic did not appreciate it. He sprinted down the floor and let McDaniels hear about it, and that is when things escalated.
Jaden McDaniels scores the layup instead of running out the clock, Nikola Jokic runs all the way from the other side of the court to face him, bumps him, as McDaniels grabs Jokic's jersey, a kerfuffle ensues.
Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle get ejected from the game
No punches. Nothing out of control. Still, it crossed the line enough for Jokic and Julius Randle to get tossed with 1.2 seconds left. Why did Jokic take exception to this? “Because he scored when everybody stopped playing,” he said in his post-game presser.
Today, the fines came out following the altercation. $50,000 for Jokic, $35,000 for Randle. But no suspensions, despite players coming off of the bench.
NBA discipline for Denver-Minnesota scuffle in Game 4:
Nikola Jokic fined $50,000 Julius Randle fined $35,000
So why no suspensions? Why does everyone suit up for Game 5?
You know where this goes. The precedent is there. Go back to the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals when Robert Horry hip checked Steve Nash into the boards late in Game 4. The league suspended Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw. They were not in the altercation. They simply stepped over the white line, which was enough for then-commissioner David Stern to enforce accountability for “leaving the bench” and ensure that this game, which is ever so sacred, was not violated by the abhorrent act of stepping over a line after one of your players gets unnecessarily thrown into the boards at the end of the game.
Here’s the video, which is extremely hard to find on the ‘ole internet despite it being a precedent-defining moment.
But hey, perhaps I’m just a scornful Suns fan. Maybe the national conversation has no appetite for hearing it again after this series with Oklahoma City and the noise around officiating. Maybe every fan base feels this when they are on the wrong end of enforcement. It can start to feel personal.
The rules are the rules. Or at least they are supposed to be. I am not pounding the table, asking for suspensions here. I am filing it away. Noting how some things get applied in one moment and not in another.
Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Nuggets is tomorrow at 7:30pm. Tune in. And watch all the players play.
Joel Embiid was back on the court for Philadelphia, returning from an appendectomy less than three weeks ago to give the 76ers a needed bump in a critical first-round game against Boston.
Except there was no bump. Kind of the opposite.
Philadelphia's other stars, like Tyrese Maxey, had to adjust to the big man in the paint and seemed to defer to him early on. The result was an offense that just did not work and missed a lot of shots.
Meanwhile, Boston just kept doing what they do. Pritchard scored 32 off the bench and knocked down six 3-pointers, while Jayson Tatum scored 30 with five from beyond the arc, plus he had 11 assists.
Boston led by 16 after one quarter, and its lead never touched single digits again as the Celtics cruised to a 129-96 win on the road.
The Celtics have a commanding 3-1 series lead as the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.
The 76ers are unquestionably better when Embiid is on the court, on both ends, but putting a superstar back in the lineup can mean an adjustment period. In this case, the combination of Embiid and the Celtics' defense meant Tyrese Maxey had just three shot attempts in the first half, as he seemed to defer to the big man, who had 10 (and Paul George had seven).
The 76ers also just could not buy a bucket in the first half. As a team, Philadelphia shot 12-of-36 (33.3%) and 3-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first 24 minutes, and if that wasn't enough, also gave up nine offensive rebounds to the Celtics.
The result was Boston racing out to a 21-point first-half lead and seemingly hitting every key shot.
PAYTON PRITCHARD THREE OFF ONE LEG BEFORE THE HORN AND THE CELTICS BENCH IS LOVING IT! pic.twitter.com/ArprVIFa9u
Boston was up by 18, 56-38, at halftime, led by Pritchard with 18 off the bench. The Celtics were rolling, and it proved to be too much to ask the 76ers to overcome that, especially for a 76ers defense that struggled to get a stop much of the night (Boston had a ridiculous 139.1 offensive rating through the non-garbage time part of this game, according to Cleaning the Glass).
In addition to Pritchard and Tatum, Jaylen Brown added 20 points and seven rebounds.
Embiid finished with 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting with 10 rebounds. Maxey was more assertive in the second half and finished with 22 points, and Paul George had 16.
Nick Nurse has some work to do to see if he can get these 76ers on the same page — on both ends of the court — by Tuesday, or Philadelphia's season is going to come to an end much earlier than they hoped.
