Sengun Leads Rockets to Keep Season Alive in Game 4

Summary:

• Alperen Sengun scored 19 points in the Houston Rockets’ 115-96 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Amen Thompson led with 23 points, crediting Sengun’s leadership for shifting the team’s mindset.
• Rockets stayed alive, forcing a Game 5.

The Houston Rockets entered Sunday facing elimination, with their 2025–26 NBA season slipping away and injuries stacking up across the roster.

However, before tipoff, forward Alperen Sengun gathered the team after shootaround and tried to reset the mood. He reminded them that, despite everything, there was still enough talent in the room to compete.

“I didn’t give up on this series and I just wanted to let everybody know” Sengun said after Houston’s 115-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, a result that kept the Rockets alive and forced a Game 5.

The Rockets had been pushed into a 3-0 hole after a painful overtime loss in Game 3, when they allowed a six-point lead disappear in the final seconds of regulation. That moment lingered, but Sengun’s message before Game 4 shifted the focus.

Guard Amen Thompson, who led the team with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting said,

He was just letting us know he didn’t want to go home. I was proud of him just taking that leadership role and just pulling us all back in there and being like, This is not how we end it. If we go out, we’re going to go out and fight, but we’re not thinking about going out.

Sengun finished with 19 points and said the team responded to his message.

I’m glad it worked and everybody came out to play today. Hopefully everybody’s mindset has changed going into a fifth game

The Turkish center has grown into a larger leadership role this season, especially with injuries sidelining key players like Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Kevin Durant. He acknowledged that responsibility after the game.

I think Tate and me is the only guys left from the rebuild. And I think this is my team, so I need to take care of everybody. I’m ready for anything for them. And I know they’re ready for it, too.

Houston coach Ime Udoka also pushed accountability after Game 3, making sure to shoe the team its late mistakes immediately after the loss.

The Rockets will head back to Los Angeles for Game 5, still trailing but with renewed belief that the series is not finished.

Can the Rockets push the tie further and maybe overcome the odds and make it to the next round? Get all the best odds with exclusive US Sportsbooks