Lakers guard Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were both fined for a verbal spat with the referees on the court immediately following L.A.'s 115-96 Game 4 loss to the Houston Rockets, the NBA announced Monday.

A Lakers insider hinted at Luka Dončić’s return window after Game 4. Here’s what it means for the series and next round.

Credit to the Houston Rockets, they responded after going down 3-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Game 4 was supposed to be their funeral, but the Rockets flipped the script for 48 minutes and dominated the Lakers,

The Rockets extended their first round series against the Lakers with a victory in Game 4.

LeBron James had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Houston Rockets for a 101-94 victory and a stunning 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

To see the Lakers struggle offensively as much as they did in Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Rockets wasn’t surprising. As coach JJ Redick reminded reporters,

The Minnesota Timberwolves head into Ball Arena tonight for a pivotal Game 5 with a chance to eliminate the Denver Nuggets and advance to the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. After dismantling Denver in consecutive home games to take a 3-1 series lead,