Rockets blast Lakers to avoid sweep
LOS ANGELES, United States — The Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-96, on Sunday (Monday Manila time) to stay alive in the NBA playoffs.
Amen Thompson scored 23 points to fuel the Rockets, who bounced back from a crushing overtime loss on Friday to cut the deficit in their best-of-seven Western Conference series to 3-1.
In Toronto, the Raptors edged the Cleveland Cavaliers, 93-89, to level their series at two games apiece.
Denied a sweep in Houston, the Lakers can still finish off the Rockets when they host Game 5 on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time).
The Rockets, still without star Kevin Durant, harried the Lakers into 24 turnovers yielding 30 Houston points.
Four-time NBA champion LeBron James made just two of nine attempts from the floor on the way to 10 points. He handed out nine assists but made eight turnovers.
With Los Angeles still missing its top scorers in injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, center Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
But the Lakers were already down by 19 when he was ejected in the third quarter after catching Rockets center Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm.
Tari Eason added 20 points and Sengun scored 19 for Houston, who are trying to become the first NBA team to rally from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.
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