Do the Rockets have reason to believe after shutting down the Lakers in Game 4?

HOUSTON — In order to achieve something that had never been done before — clawing back from a 3-0 playoff deficit — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka had to attempt the impossible by calling on a few lineups that hadn’t played more than a few seconds prior to Game 4.

Udoka had raved about the prospect of playing small for weeks leading up to the playoffs — and teased the idea every now and then — his passion about the strategy was Houston’s worst-kept secret. The potential for speed, switching, versatility and chaos as an in-game changeup outweighed the ability to predict the future.

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The Rockets’ desperation naturally played a part in Sunday night’s brawl; the sheer pride, ego and confidence displayed for months wouldn’t so easily go into the night without some resistance. But in a first-round series that has been decided by timely chess moves and adjustments, Udoka’s latest trick delayed a dance with disaster, reinvigorating a group not ready to call it quits on its season.

“The switching was good for us,” Udoka said following Houston’s 115-96 win. “We like small [ball] and the fact that some guys are out — obviously Kevin [Durant] — we can activate Dorian [Finney-Smith] and certain guys, so there will be lineups that we haven’t seen as much of. Everyone that came in contributed, defensive intensity was on point, focus was good and that’s the result you get, holding them under 100.”

Houston’s small ball, with at least four defenders on the floor at all times who can switch any matchup, slowed the game down for a Lakers team that had found success hunting and exploiting matchups in this series. Game 4 was always going to be a mud-wrestling bout — this matchup was already operating at the league’s second-lowest pace — but the uglier the game got, the slower it became and the longer it wore on, fortune favoring the fierce. The Lakers scored just 84.7 points per 100 half-court plays, which ranks in the 16th percentile of all playoff games to date, were woeful from deep (5-of-22) and turned the ball over 25.6% percent of offensive possessions, the worst in the…

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Author : Kelly Iko

Publish date : 2026-04-27 07:27:00

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