Facing elimination and trailing 3-0 in the series, the Houston Rockets found new life with a strong 115-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 on Sunday night.
Head coach Ime Udoka rolled out some unorthodox small-ball lineups that hadn’t seen much action before, emphasizing speed, switching, and defensive versatility. The move paid off, slowing down a Lakers team that had been exploiting matchups earlier in the series. Houston held Los Angeles to just 84.7 points per 100 half-court possessions and forced a season-high 25.6% turnover rate on offense for the Lakers.
The Rockets’ aggressive switching and perimeter pressure created chaos, leading to a franchise-record 17 steals in the game. Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason combined for eight of those steals while anchoring the defense and communicating assignments effectively. Smith, in particular, thrived as a stretch center in the smaller units, helping extend the defensive shell and disrupt Los Angeles’ rhythm.
LeBron James had a tough night, finishing with just 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting and a game-high eight turnovers. The Rockets’ physical and disciplined approach clearly disrupted his usual flow.
The win wasn’t just about survival — it showed Houston’s ability to adjust and compete at a high level even without key contributors. Small-ball lineups without a traditional center were plus-16 in limited minutes, highlighting the potential of this strategy moving forward.
With the series shifting back to Los Angeles for Game 5, the Rockets have reason to feel encouraged. They’ve proven they can match the Lakers’ intensity and force mistakes. While the deficit is still steep, Sunday’s performance injected fresh belief into a young, hungry group that isn’t ready to end its season just yet.
Game 5 promises another intense battle as Houston looks to extend the series once more.