LeBron James has taken full responsibility for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-96 defeat by the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
The four-time NBA champion managed just 10 points and committed eight turnovers during a dismal performance in Texas.
Despite the heavy loss, the Lakers still hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Wednesday’s Game 5.
“It started with me, obviously. My turnovers were unacceptable.”
LeBron James
Third-quarter collapse and Ayton ejection
Los Angeles trailed by just nine points at halftime before being completely overwhelmed in a disastrous third quarter.
Houston outscored their opponents 34-18 in the period, exploiting an error-strewn spell where the veteran Lakers superstar shot 0-for-3 from the floor and surrendered possession four times.
Matters worsened for the visitors when center Deandre Ayton was ejected midway through the third quarter following a contentious video review.
The Bahamian big man was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for striking Rockets center Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm.
“We both are sweaty guys. [My arm] just slipped off his shoulder… I’m not a dirty player.”
Deandre Ayton
Tempers flare in fiery conclusion
Even Sengun, who starred for the hosts with 19 points and 13 rebounds in the absence of the injured Kevin Durant, felt the ejection was incredibly harsh.
“I didn’t expect them to eject him to be honest. I think it was a little bit soft.”
Alperen Sengun
The controversial dismissal sparked a chaotic end to the game, with officials handing out five further technical fouls.
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and Houston guard Aaron Holiday were both thrown out of the contest with just over a minute remaining after a heated verbal exchange.
Team-mate Luka Doncic reportedly promised to pay any NBA fine incurred by Thiero, as post-match tensions continued to spill over at center court following the final buzzer.
Joel Embiid has returned to the Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup for Game 4 of their playoff series against the Boston Celtics, just two and a half weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
The 32-year-old was initially listed as doubtful for the Eastern Conference quarterfinal clash on Sunday night.
However, team officials upgraded him to questionable shortly before tip-off following a successful morning shootaround.
He was officially cleared to play just 30 minutes before the game began in Philadelphia.
His rapid comeback sends second-year prospect Adem Bona back to the bench.
Uncertainty over playing minutes
It remains unclear exactly how much court time the returning star will be able to manage.
The prominent centre began a rigorous strength and conditioning programme last Monday.
He remained at home for the opening two games of the series in Boston, which the 76ers managed to split.
Medical staff were pleased with his progress during practice on Thursday, though he was ultimately ruled out of Game 3.
A history of postseason injuries
This sudden surgery in Houston is the latest in a long line of health setbacks for the franchise cornerstone.
Excluding the 2020 bubble season, he has suffered an injury during every playoff campaign of his professional career.
He bravely played through Bell’s palsy and a knee issue during a first-round series against the New York Knicks two years ago.
Previous postseason campaigns have also been derailed by a fractured orbital bone, a torn meniscus and knee tendinitis.
Crucial boost for Philadelphia
Despite his health struggles, the dominant big man remains integral to Philadelphia’s championship aspirations.
He featured in 38 regular-season games this year, delivering an impressive 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest.
His presence on the court will significantly boost his team’s chances of advancing to the conference semi-finals.
The Toronto Raptors levelled their NBA playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a gritty 93-89 victory in Game 4 on Sunday, despite recording the lowest three-point shooting percentage in post-season history.
The Canadian franchise shot just 13.3% from beyond the arc, converting a mere four of their 30 attempts from deep.
It stands as the worst perimeter shooting performance by any team with at least 25 attempts in an NBA playoff victory.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic saw his team manage an overall field-goal percentage of only 32%, but a resilient defensive effort ultimately overcame their offensive struggles.
Rajakovic praises defensive resilience
“We just never flinched; we continued guarding and guarding,” Rajakovic said after the hard-fought win.
“I told our guys at halftime, it’s awesome, we’re shooting 27% from the field and 15% from the 3-point line. And I was lying.”
The team’s tactician added: “But whatever it takes, just find a way to win the game.”
Brandon Ingram provided a rare offensive spark, hitting three of the hosts’ four successful three-pointers.
Ingram and Barnes step up
The towering forward finished with 23 points, matching the impressive scoring tally of team-mate Scottie Barnes.
Together, the duo successfully outscored Cleveland’s star pairing of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who managed 20 and 19 points respectively.
Barnes proved instrumental on both ends of the floor, willingly taking on the primary defensive assignment against Mitchell.
The Cavaliers’ star guard struggled significantly against the imposing defender, making just one of his eight shot attempts when directly challenged.
Belief remains high in Toronto
Toronto’s locker room has credited their young leader for maintaining belief when the squad fell 2-0 behind earlier in the series.
“He actually, in his mind, envisioned what we need to do to win the game,” team-mate Garrett Temple revealed.
“You can feel when he really believes that we have found something that we can do to win.”
After dropping the opening two fixtures on the road, the hosts have successfully defended their home court to balance the tie at two wins apiece.
Pivotal Game 5 awaits
The best-of-seven series will now shift back to Ohio on Wednesday, where both sides will look to seize crucial control of the match-up.
“Scotty right now, the way he’s playing, he’s at 60% of a player that he’s going to be in two, three years,” Rajakovic stated.
“He’s already one of the best players in the league, but how much he cares about winning, it’s pushing him forward to do whatever it takes to win the game.”
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been cleared from the NBA’s concussion protocol and will return for Sunday’s Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The French international suffered the head injury during Tuesday’s Game 2 and was subsequently ruled out of the following fixture.
Despite his absence, San Antonio successfully secured a vital victory in Game 3 to establish a 2-1 lead in the playoff series.
Rigorous medical protocols completed
The unanimous Defensive Player of the Year travelled with the squad to Oregon on Thursday while diligently undertaking mandatory medical steps.
Under league regulations, athletes must pass a strict series of physical benchmarks before being authorised to resume competitive action.
These comprehensive test results are carefully compared against baseline neurological evaluations established at the beginning of the campaign.
A monumental boost for San Antonio
Regaining the towering centre represents a massive tactical advantage for the visiting team as they look to extend their series advantage.
The MVP finalist has enjoyed an extraordinary season, averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest.
Additionally, the generational talent completely dominated the league defensively by registering an unparalleled 3.1 blocks a night.
Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were ejected following a late-game skirmish as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The altercation was sparked when Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels converted an uncontested transition layup with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
Believing the match to be conceded, the reigning league MVP took exception to the late score and confronted his opponent in front of the home bench.
The ensuing scuffle drew in players from both sides, ultimately resulting in ejections for the Serbian centre and Timberwolves forward Randle.
Late controversy sours dominant win
Tensions between the two Western Conference rivals were already running high following McDaniels’ recent comments criticising Denver’s defensive capabilities.
The 24-year-old was unapologetic about his decision to play through the final buzzer at the Target Center.
“Clock still be running, so I’m going to go score,” McDaniels stated.
Jokic, who sprinted across the court to shove the Minnesota wing before being dragged into a wider melee, was equally resolute in his stance.
“I don’t regret it, because he scored after everybody stopped playing,” the Denver talisman admitted post-match.
Injury woes compound Denver frustration
The NBA will now review the incident ahead of Game Five, specifically looking at whether players improperly left the bench area.
Denver coach David Adelman expressed his severe disappointment with the late layup, describing it as an outdated and unnecessary tactic.
“The game was over, the game was conceded, and that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore,” Adelman said.
The dramatic finale capped a deeply frustrating night for the pre-series favourites, who have surrendered the momentum after comfortably winning the opening fixture.
To compound their misery, the 2023 champions are battling a mounting injury crisis on the perimeter.
Aaron Gordon attempted to play through a calf issue but was visibly struggling during his 23 minutes on the court, leaving his availability for the next match in serious doubt.
With defensive specialist Peyton Watson already sidelined by a hamstring problem, the Nuggets are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with Minnesota’s relentless length and athleticism.
Minnesota Timberwolves guards Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo suffered game-ending injuries during a costly Game 4 playoff clash against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Edwards had to be helped to the locker room late in the second quarter after appearing to hyperextend his left knee.
The explosive scorer leaped to contest a drive by Denver wing Cam Johnson but landed awkwardly, causing his joint to bend backward.
Unable to put weight on his leg, the franchise cornerstone slammed the floor in visible pain before being officially ruled out shortly after halftime.
Double blow for Minnesota
The hyperextension compounded what was already a disastrous first half for the hosts.
Starting shooting guard DiVincenzo lasted just 79 seconds of the contest before sustaining a non-contact lower right leg injury.
The sharpshooter planted his foot to chase an offensive rebound following a missed attempt, only for his leg to suddenly give out.
He immediately reached for his lower ankle area and required assistance from trainers to leave the court.
Ongoing fitness concerns
These latest setbacks threaten to derail Minnesota’s promising postseason run, as they currently hold a 2-1 lead over Denver in this first-round series.
Fitness issues have plagued the Timberwolves’ talisman recently, with Edwards missing 11 of the team’s final 14 regular-season fixtures due to a persistent right knee problem.
He had been wearing a protective sleeve on his right leg and was listed as questionable heading into the opening three games of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, DiVincenzo’s absence leaves a significant void in the starting lineup following a stellar campaign of durability and production.
Crucial playoff impact
The reliable guard started all 82 regular-season games, sinking the sixth-most three-pointers in the NBA while averaging 12.2 points per night.
He had also been instrumental in establishing the early series advantage, contributing double-digit scoring figures in each of the first three matchups.
Medical staff will now nervously assess both players as Minnesota faces a critical juncture in their postseason journey.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career playoff-high 42 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns and a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The defending NBA champions are now just one win away from completing a post-season sweep in Monday’s Game 4.
The Canadian international’s dominant performance arrived just days after being branded “frail” and accused of foul-baiting by Phoenix forward Dillon Brooks.
Answering the critics
Despite the pre-match hostility, the Thunder talisman let his basketball do the talking at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
He connected on an astonishing 15 of his 18 attempts from the floor, joining an elite group of just five players in NBA history to score 40 or more points on 80% shooting in a playoff game.
The dynamic playmaker was particularly lethal off the dribble, making 14 of 16 attempts while completely dismantling the Phoenix defence.
Thunder overcome Williams injury
Oklahoma City’s task was made significantly harder before tip-off following news that star wing Jalen Williams would be sidelined by a left hamstring strain.
However, the absence of their crucial secondary scorer simply prompted the team’s primary offensive weapon to shoulder even more responsibility.
After scoring through heavy contact late in the final quarter without receiving a whistle, the usually reserved superstar animatedly shouted to his bench that he did not need the referee’s help.
“I just think they missed the call, but I scored anyway. It’s OK, don’t worry about it.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Suns search for answers
Phoenix had specifically adjusted their defensive schemes to load up against the Oklahoma City guard, but their efforts proved entirely futile.
Even when double-teamed, the Thunder star remained flawless, converting all three of his attempts against multiple defenders.
Suns head coach Jordan Ott admitted his team had simply run out of ideas against the relentless offensive barrage.
“We tried different matchups, tried to take it out of his hands. Give him credit. He had us spinning tonight.”
Jordan Ott, Phoenix Suns head coach
Thunder power forward Chet Holmgren, meanwhile, was wholly unsurprised by his team-mate’s historic efficiency.
“I don’t think we saw anything different tonight than we normally do, except he was 15-of-18. It seemed like a pretty normal night, I guess.”
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Caitlin Clark returned from a nine-month injury absence to help the Indiana Fever secure a 109-91 preseason victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday.
The standout guard finished with seven points, four assists and three rebounds in just under 17 minutes of action.
It marked her first WNBA appearance since a severe injury curtailed her sophomore season after only 13 games.
The former Iowa collegiate star received a rapturous ovation from the crowd during the starting lineup introductions in New York.
Playing with joy after injury nightmare
Clark immediately made her presence felt by scoring the opening basket before sinking her trademark step-back three-pointer moments later.
However, rust naturally showed as the USA international missed her final eight shots from the field.
“This isn’t a real game, I understand that, but that’s how we treat it, like a real game,” said Clark.
“I think anytime you get to put on your uniform and lace up your shoes you don’t take that for granted, especially after coming off last year when I didn’t get to do that very much.”
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White highlighted a noticeable shift in her star player’s demeanour compared to previous campaigns.
“I think that’s the thing, watching her play with joy,” White observed.
“In practice her energy is different, carrying herself in a different way.”
Recent international success and missing stars
While this was her first franchise appearance since last July, the playmaker is not entirely devoid of recent match fitness.
She recently represented USA Basketball in a World Cup qualifying tournament last month, earning Most Valuable Player honours for her performances.
“She was itchy and antsy before training camp started,” added White.
“Glad she had those games with USA Basketball and came into training camp having played.”
Both teams fielded depleted rosters as they manage early-season fitness and wait for overseas commitments to conclude.
Indiana rested key personnel including Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, who are nursing minor leg and hamstring issues respectively.
Meanwhile, the Liberty were without marquee free-agent signing Satou Sabally alongside several European stars.