Staying alive: Amen Thompson steps up in Game 4 as Rockets rout Lakers

HOUSTON -- Amen Thompson stepped up with 23 points and 7 assists on 10-of-16 shooting (62.5%) as the Rockets staved off potential playoff elimination with Sunday’s 115-96 home victory (box score) over Los Angeles.

Despite Houston’s Game 4 win at Toyota Center, the Lakers still lead the best-of-seven, first-round series by a 3-1 margin. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

It was a balanced effort for the Rockets, who had all five starters score at least 16 points. Final statistics for that group, which includes five first-round selections from between 2021 and 2024, were as follows:

• Amen Thompson: 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3-of-3 on free throws
• Tari Eason: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals; 7-of-10 shooting (70.0%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%), +31 in 30 minutes
• Reed Sheppard: 17 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%)
• Alperen Sengun: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 7-of-13 on free throws (53.8%)
• Jabari Smith Jr.: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists; 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%), 6-of-6 on free throws

Houston’s defense limited Lakers star to 10 points, 9 assists, and 8 turnovers while shooting just 2-of-9 shots (22.2%) from the field. As a team, Los Angeles made only 5-of-22 shots from 3-point range (22.7%).