By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Inspired by an emotional morning shootaround speech from Alperen Sengun, the Houston Rockets avoided elimination from the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, on Sunday with a comfortable Game 4 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on Sunday. Facing a 0-3 series deficit, 23-year-old Sengun challenged his teammates to keep their season alive, a message that resonated throughout a balanced offensive performance where every starter scored at least 16 points.
“I didn’t give up on this series, and I just wanted to let everybody know,” underlined the Turkish starting center to open his postgame press conference. “Just going into the games, watching the films. I just wanted to do something different. I’m glad it worked, and everyone came out to play today. Hopefully, everybody’s mindset has changed going into the fifth game. We saw it today, and I’m really happy for that.”
The Giresun native reflected on the difficulty of displaying leadership while navigating a second language. “After the talk, everybody was saying that you really motivated me. And I was like, ‘My language was good?’. They were, ‘You messed up one point, but I don’t care’. I was happy because they understood me. It’s hard to talk in another language, but I try every day,” he added.
The Rockets’ 19-point effort from Sengun was bolstered by the team’s collective urgency, especially after a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 3. Houston established control early, carrying a nine-point lead into halftime before breaking the game open with a 12-4 run to start the third quarter. The momentum shifted further when Deandre Ayton was ejected with 5:30 remaining in the third period.
The Lakers center was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for what officials termed unnecessary and excessive contact after he struck the Turkish big in the head with his elbow and forearm. After the game, head coach JJ Redick suggested Ayton was merely bracing himself. “I didn’t expect them to eject him, to be honest,” commented Sengun.
By the end of the third quarter, the hosts had pushed their lead to 25 points. The victory was particularly notable as they continued to play without Kevin Durant, who missed his third game of the series due to a sprained left ankle. However, his presence on the bench and a more optimistic outlook from coach Ime Udoka, who did not rule out a potential return for the superstar later in the series, provided an additional spark.
With the best-of-seven series now at 3-1, the Rockets have successfully forced a Game 5. The matchup moves back to Los Angeles on Wednesday.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-2 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-2 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 2-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-1 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 3-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 3-1 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions