The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in Game 4, though it wasn’t because of Deandre Ayton as he had his best game of the series.
Ayton was the lone bright spot for the Lakers offensively as he led the team with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. However, Ayton was later ejected from the game after his elbow to Alperen Sengun was upgraded to a Flagrant 2. He later said the play wasn’t intentional, though it didn’t matter as Los Angeles was well on its way to losing.
Ayton was disappointed he didn’t get to finish Game 4, but expressed how much he’s looking forward to seeing the Rockets in Game 5.
“I’m licking my chops. I’m licking my chops, trust me,” the big man said. “I’ve been here before. This was supposed to be an elimination game but I love what the crowd brought with the energy, it was perfect. Try to end this at home, but I love the intensity, I love the fight I saw in the guys over there with the Rockets. I can’t wait [for Game 5].”
Ayton also expects fireworks in a Game 5 environment where Los Angeles’ crowd gets into it.
“Tonight definitely didn’t make us feel comfortable. We’re pretty angry. I’m pretty angry,” Ayton admitted. “Honestly, I wish we could play tomorrow. I have a lot of energy now. But we’re gonna go back, watch the film and really turn up our level of intensity a little bit higher. We’ll have our fans out there chanting for us, [it should be] quite a game.”
Game 4 featured a more tired Lakers team that looked like it was still recovering from its Game 3 overtime win. Outside of Ayton, the rest of the group struggled with shooting and taking care of the basketball and the Rockets took full advantage to extend the series.
Although Los Angeles is one game away from advancing, they can’t afford to ease off the gas pedal at all as Houston has the youth and athletes to withstand a longer series. With Kevin Durant likely to miss Game 5 due to his left ankle sprain, now is the perfect time for the Lakers to close things out.
Clint Capela surprised by Deandre Ayton’s comments
Ayton made headlines when he named Clint Capela in his reported frustrations with his role on the Lakers. While Ayton insists he didn’t mean anything negatory toward Capela, the Rockets center admitted he was surprised when he heard the comments.
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