Lakers fall to Kevin Durant-less Rockets in Game 4 for 1st loss in playoff series

What it means

The series will head back to Los Angeles for Game 5 with the Lakers leading 3-1.

Turning point

When the Lakers committed three turnovers on four possessions early in the first quarter. They were still leading at the time, but it set a poor tone for the remainder of the game, with the Rockets ramping up their defensive pressure from there,

MVP: Amen Thompson

Thompson has been the Rockets’ best player in the series and was their most important on Sunday. He finished with team-highs of 23 points and 7 assists, with all five Rockets starters scoring in double figures. Tari Eason added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. Sengun has 19 points and 6 rebounds.

Stat of the game: 24

That’s how many turnovers the Lakers committed on Sunday, their most in a playoff game since having 24 turnovers on Sept. 20, 2020, which was their win over the Nuggets in Game 2 of the 2020 Western Conference Finals. The Rockets scored 30 points off the Lakers’ giveaways.

Up next

Game 5 of the Lakers’ playoff series against the Rockets is scheduled for Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena with a 7 p.m. tipoff.

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