The Houston Rockets avoided elimination with a 115-96 win against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points, and Tari Eason added 20 to earn their first win of the series.
Alperen Sengun added 19 points, Reed Sheppard 17, and Jabari Smith Jr. 16.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant sat out a second straight game with a sprained left ankle after missing Game 1 with a bruised right knee.
On the other hand, Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds before being ejected with about 5½ minutes left in the third quarter for a flagrant foul 2 on a hit to Sengun’s head.
LeBron James only had 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting with nine assists and eight turnovers before sitting with about 7½ minutes to go after scoring 19, 28, and 29 points in the first three games.
The Lakers had 23 turnovers.
The Rockets looked good from the start in this one after squandering a six-point lead in the final 26 seconds of regulation in a devastating 112-108 overtime loss Friday night.
Houston led by nine at halftime and used a 12-4 run to start the third and make it 68-51 with about 8½ minutes to go in the quarter.
They were up by 19 later in the quarter before going on a 9-3 run to end the quarter and push the lead to 90-65 entering the fourth.
Durant was on the bench Sunday night to support his team after he was absent Friday night because head coach Ime Udoka said he was receiving treatment on his injured ankle.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
