Throughout this series, JJ Redick has continued to hammer home the point of playing with desperation, and just how much that matters in the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round matchup. That approach helped the Lakers build a 3-0 lead heading into Game 4. However, on Sunday night, Los Angeles played like a team who knew they had that advantage.
The Lakers lost a disappointing 115-96 contest to the Houston Rockets in Game 4, allowing Ime Udoka's team to keep their season alive, even if it does remain on life support. After Udoka lit up his young guys following the Game 3 loss, they responded.
Houston's starting lineup for Game 4 was filled with inexperience, but it was also loaded with hunger for this one. Each starter for the Rockets wound up scoring double digits, with Amen Thompson's 23 points leading the way in that department.
Limiting it to the offensive end would not do justice to the Rockets. Houston's starters collectively forced 13 steals. Here, it was Tari Eason leading the way with five in that department. While the Lakers were sleepwalking, their opponents stomped all over them.
Lakers finally did not look like the more desperate team in Game 4
This game really got away from the Lakers in the third quarter. The Rockets went into the halftime break with a strong 56-47 lead. It was after that pause in play that Houston came back out there and crushed any comeback bid that Los Angeles might have been dreaming of.
The Rockets outscored the Lakers 34-18 in the third quarter. That all but wrapped up the contest.
One of the main reasons that Los Angeles lost the reins in the third quarter had to do with who they no longer had out there. Deandre Ayton, who was a surprising bright spot from this game, got tossed after halftime. An elbow thrown to the head had officials elevate his foul to a flagrant 2 upon review.
The Lakers struggled to generate consistent offense in this one due to the Rockets' pressure and relentless energy. Losing Ayton, who was already up to 19 points and 10 rebounds in the game, was a punishing blow for a team who needed that production.
"The desperate team usually wins. ... We can't relax," Redick told reporters earlier in the series.
In Game 4, the Lakers looked relaxed. The second-year head coach will now have to revive that feeling of urgency within his squad before their next opportunity to wrap up this series in Game 5, back in Los Angeles, on Wednesday.
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