The Rockets‘ 115-96 victory in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Lakers on Sunday gave them a glimmer of hope they can erase a 3-0 deficit. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday and Houston center Alperen Sengun is optimistic his team can bring the series back to Houston for a Game 6.
“The mood is good. We got one, but we’re not happy with it,” Sengun said, as Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net relays. “We’re going back to L.A. to fight again, no matter what. … I think we have been confident, just missing the shots. In the last game, we played with pace. We made them turn over a lot. Everybody did their job great. I think everybody is still hungry, and we are going over there to get another one, and come back home, and make them a little nervous.”
Sengun has averaged 22.8 points, 1o.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in the series.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Tari Eason played a huge role in the Game 4 win. He scored 20 points while hounding LeBron James on defense. The Lakers star had just 10 points with eight turnovers. “He’s just always flying around,” fellow forward Jabari Smith Jr. said, per Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle. “He always ends up coming up with a loose ball that just randomly seems like it just sticks to his hand. I’m used to it by now.” Eason will be a restricted free agent after the season.
- Speaking of Smith, he’s brimming with confidence that Game 4 was a turnaround rather than an aberration. “We’re obviously the better team, I feel,” he told Shankar at the team’s Tuesday practice. Smith went on to say that Houston is better than the Lakers “from top to bottom.”
- Reed Sheppard had a rough rookie season after being selected with the No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft, He told Shakeia Taylor of The Athletic it took a toll on him. “It was tough. It was different. I wasn’t used to anything like that,” Sheppard said. The second-year guard has appeared in every game this season, including 21 regular season starts. He has scored exactly 17 points in three of the four games against the Lakers. “I think a lot of it is just trust in yourself. I’ve played basketball my whole life, and I’ve been in moments that you dream of as a little kid,” Sheppard said. “So, now that I’m here, it’s like just have fun, trust in yourself and trust the work that you put in.”
- Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Game 5. Get the details here.
I’d like to see Eason on another team with a starting role. He’s still figuring everything out but I think he can be really good
As a rockets fan, I would also like to see this
Lakers just wanted to win at home. Nothing more than a gentlemen’s sweep
For all the conspiracy talk that gets done in these comments I am kind of shocked that nobody has pulled out the “Lakers are extending the series on purpose to give Luka more time!” thing. That one has been tickling me lol.
Buying buckets used it already bonercats , couple rants on it actually
Jabari claiming the Rockets are “obviously the better team” after he was the key reason why they lost game 3 is funny.
The only reason the Lakers lose tonight is to give Luka more healing time before the 2nd rd vs OKC.
Can’t believe that the Rockets drafted Sheppard instead of Castle in the 2024 draft. Who cares if the Rockets have to play Castle out of position?
It’s easy to 2nd guess drafts in hindsight – the Hawks took Risacher #1 which hasn’t worked out so far and the Wizards took Sarr, who could end up better than Castle.
But you’re right, the Rockets would be WAY better if they’d picked Castle.
They had Thompson at the 2. Looked at Sheppard as a PG. I’m a big Castle guy. I think Rockets did the right thing. Sheppard still has time to show. He had a good year.
Also had Green …….. then . Forgot.
Castle is playing great as a PG, he was 6th in the league at 7.4 apg this season. Sheppard is 70th at 3.4 apg.
Castle isn’t a PG. His ast are up. Today with smaller lineups playing more mins. Ast are more spread out. Has nothing to do with running point. Not even Harper runs point yet. Fox is their PG. Assits are important for a PG. it’s not the definitive stats it used to be for PGs. Sheppard is still learning the NBA and to run point. He was more a scorer combo guard in college. Castle has a chance to be a top 2way SG in NBA. Amen ast are up this yr too. He isn’t a PG either.
Castle had more apg than Fox who put up 6.2 apg despite avging 1 min/gm less pt.
Claiming the guy leading a team in apg “isn’t a PG” is a silly semantics argument failure.
Oh god no….
Please do not tell me that we’re adding f’ing Reed Shepard to your band of misfit toys
Please name one other.
Devin Carter.
Don’t even know him. I asked you about him. Wondering why he wasn’t playing. Then you had your fit. Cause I said why wouldn’t you play him on worst team in NBA. Just like I would play Williams in Chicago. It’s called getting your house in order. If you don’t want to develop them. Then play them to trade them. What’s the point of burning a top pick. I am more informed about him now. I care less about him than you. You need a puppy lol. I am serious. Get help.
You may find this hard to believe. Ki gs don’t care what we think. Doesn’t make us wrong. And me looking out for whats best for Kings. Is a personal insult to you. Well I can’t help you there. And Don’t GAF.
This generation’s Matthew Delladova.
👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆
Way off on that one. Right now he’s much better. Sheppard knows the game better than most. The game Hasn’t slowed down for him yet. Has the potential to be a big time shooter.
Reed Sheppard’s clutch play late helps Rockets stave off elimination vs. Lakers on LeBron James’ historic night
link to x.com
When will haters learn. It’s just a game. Yet all you see is failure ……. Reed thanks you
5th most pts on the team with 12 pts on 41%/29% shooting 0 reb 6 ast (2nd to Sengun’s 8), 3 stl (2nd to Thompson’s 4), +2 (2nd worst of the starters). Good for him that he made a couple of plays in clutch time.
Which team do you think wins tonight?