Lakers’ LeBron James goes 12 years before brutal Game 4 setback

The Los Angeles Lakers could not complete a sweep of the Houston Rockets after getting trounced in Game 4 on Sunday, 115-96, of their first-round series in the playoffs at Toyota Center.

The Lakers looked lethargic in the third quarter, giving up 34 points. It allowed the Rockets, who were in a do-or-die situation, to break the game open, and the Purple and Gold failed to get back into the contest.

After averaging 25.3 points in the first three games, LeBron James was limited to just 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting.

According to ESPN Insights, the last time James had two or fewer field goals was in Game 5 of the conference finals in 2014 between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.

“No other members of this current Lakers team were in the league then,” noted the post on X.

James and the Heat went on to eliminate the Pacers in six games to return to the NBA Finals, wherein they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

The 41-year-old James also had four rebounds, nine assists, and eight turnovers, as he was hounded by the interchanging defense of Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Josh Okogie, and Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Lakers were coming off an exhausting comeback in Game 3, with James and Marcus Smart delivering the heroic plays.

Fatigue may have been a factor for the four-time MVP in Game 4, as both teams only had a day of rest between games.

The Lakers will try to finish off the Rockets in Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.

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