HOUSTON -- Amen Thompson stepped up with 23 points and 7 assists on 10-of-16 shooting (62.5%) as the Rockets staved off potential playoff elimination with Sunday’s 115-96 home victory (box score) over Los Angeles.

Despite Houston’s Game 4 win at Toyota Center, the Lakers still lead the best-of-seven, first-round series by a 3-1 margin. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

It was a balanced effort for the Rockets, who had all five starters score at least 16 points. Final statistics for that group, which includes five first-round selections from between 2021 and 2024, were as follows:

Amen Thompson: 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3-of-3 on free throws

Tari Eason: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals; 7-of-10 shooting (70.0%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%), +31 in 30 minutes

Reed Sheppard: 17 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%)

Alperen Sengun: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 7-of-13 on free throws (53.8%)

Jabari Smith Jr.: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists; 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%), 6-of-6 on free throws

Houston’s defense limited Lakers star LeBron James to 10 points, 9 assists, and 8 turnovers while shooting just 2-of-9 shots (22.2%) from the field. As a team, Los Angeles made only 5-of-22 shots from 3-point range (22.7%).

All-Star forward Kevin Durant (ankle sprain) remained sidelined for the Rockets, while the Lakers were still without Luka Doncic (hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain).

The status of all three injured stars for Wednesday’s Game 5 is unclear.

More: ‘Very tough’: Rockets, Kevin Durant lament ill-timed playoff injuries

Kevin Durant’s status is game-to-game per Ime Udoka. He has not been ruled out for the series.

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) April 27, 2026

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Staying alive: Amen Thompson steps up in Game 4 as Rockets rout Lakers