Ime Udoka Takes Shot at NBA Officiating After Ayton-Sengun Incident
Ime Udoka was not exactly thrilled with the way officials handled the Deandre Ayton-Alperen Sengun incident in Game 4. Ayton was ejected after being hit with a Flagrant 2 for catching Sengun in the head while defending him, ending his night early despite a strong 19-point, 10-rebound outing.
Udoka admitted the elbow looked intentional, but he still seemed surprised that it was enough to get Ayton thrown out, using the moment to take a jab at how the NBA officiates physical play now. With Ayton gone and the game still in progress, the call became an instant talking point, especially as the Rockets tried to take advantage and the Lakers had to lean more on Jaxson Hayes inside.
Ime Udoka said he thought Ayton's elbow to Sengun was intentional but was "surprised" at the Flagrant 2. "But that's the NBA now, they call it a little softer than they used to." pic.twitter.com/DnCX6LBT1W
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 27, 2026
Ramona Shelburne shared Udoka's reaction to the ejection on X saying, "Ime Udoka said he thought Ayton's elbow to Sengun was intentional but was "surprised" at the Flagrant 2. "But that's the NBA now, they call it a little softer than they used to."
Houston Rockets Finally Get a Win to Force Game Five
The Lakers went into Game 4 with a chance to end the series, but Houston made sure that did not happen.
From the start, the Rockets looked like the sharper and more urgent team. Even without Kevin Durant, they played with pace, attacked the Lakers' defense, and kept building pressure until the game finally broke open. Los Angeles never found much rhythm from outside, and once the Rockets started pulling away, the Lakers needed someone to keep them alive. For a while, that player was Deandre Ayton.
Ayton was one of the few bright spots for LA, giving them size, scoring, and rebounding when almost everything else looked flat. He was getting easy looks inside, punishing smaller lineups, and doing enough to make it feel like the Lakers still had a small window to fight back.
But that window basically closed in the third quarter. Ayton was tossed after catching Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm, ending his night early and removing the Lakers' most reliable option. He had 19 points and 10 rebounds when he left, which made the ejection sting even more.
After that, Houston had full control. The Rockets cruised to a 115-96 win, avoided the sweep, and forced Game 5 in Los Angeles. The Lakers still lead the series, but this was a reminder that closing out a playoff team is never simple.
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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 1:30 AM.