Lakers’ Deandre Ayton ejected from Game 4 after flagrant 2 foul on Alperen Sengun

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Lakers in their first attempt at closing out their first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have built upon their nine-point lead at the halftime intermission and pushed it deep into double digits.

And with the Lakers floundering, the Rockets’ aggressiveness and desperation has continued to paid off — with Alperen Sengun drawing a flagrant foul penalty two on Deandre Ayton, warranting an automatic ejection.

With a little under six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Sengun attacked Ayton one-on-one going to the basket. Just as the Rockets star was preparing to shoot, Ayton braced for contact and hit him on the head with an elbow. The officials then deemed the contact from the Lakers star to be “unnecessary and excessive”, which warranted the flagrant foul penalty two call.

Deandre Ayton has just been EJECTED for an “unnecessary and excessive” elbow to Alperen Sengun’s chin

Good or bad call? pic.twitter.com/gg6zTFWMEe

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 27, 2026

This sent Ayton packing early towards the locker room, and his night is over after recording 19 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Rockets star Kevin Durant, who’s wearing casual clothes after being ruled out for multiple weeks due to a bone bruise in his ankle, clearly loved this turn of events and even waved Ayton goodbye as he made his way to the tunnel.

Kevin Durant waved goodbye after the Ayton ejection.

pic.twitter.com/XIFwureeWn https://t.co/fF3IZY5cE4

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 27, 2026

Ayton was one of the few bright spots for the Lakers as they’ve struggled throughout Game 4 of their first-round clash against the Rockets. He was a reliable source of offense on lobs, and he was the only viable defender LA had on Sengun, as Jaxson Hayes is giving up a few pounds on the post against the Rockets big man.

With their season on the line, Houston played with the kind of force that was needed as they tried to extend the series and send it back to Los Angeles for Game 5. The Rockets are currently in command of Game 4, pushing their lead to over 20 points, 88-64, with time winding down in the third quarter.

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