Rockets Stun Lakers in Playoff Comeback; Wembanyama Shines as Spurs Edge Closer to Advancement

The Houston Rockets delivered a decisive 115-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, keeping their playoff hopes alive in their Western Conference series. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama's triumphant return lifted the San Antonio Spurs to the brink of advancing past their opponents.

Amen Thompson led the Rockets' offensive charge with 23 points as Houston bounced back from a devastating overtime defeat in the previous contest. The win reduced the series deficit to 3-1 in the best-of-seven matchup.

Multiple Series Heat Up Across Playoffs

The Spurs and Boston Celtics both established commanding 3-1 leads in their respective series. San Antonio engineered a stunning comeback from 19 points behind to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-93 on the road, while Boston dominated the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 at home.

In Toronto, the Raptors claimed a 93-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to level their series at two wins apiece.

Los Angeles will have another opportunity to eliminate Houston when the teams meet for game five on Wednesday. However, the Rockets demonstrated resilience in forcing the continuation, despite playing without star forward Kevin Durant. Houston's aggressive defence forced the Lakers into 24 turnovers, converting them into 30 points.

Wembanyama's Triumphant Return

The 22-year-old French sensation made an emphatic statement upon his comeback from a concussion that sidelined him for one game. Wembanyama posted a masterful performance with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals and seven blocks—an exceptional defensive display.

"I had lots of emotions in me before the game, obviously. Excitement, frustration, so I let it all out tonight," Wembanyama remarked following the contest.

The 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and MVP contender acknowledged the medical team overseeing his return through the league's concussion protocol, yet expressed frustration with the gradual rehabilitation process.

"The way the situation was handled was very disappointing," Wembanyama stated, offering no further details.

De'Aaron Fox led all scorers with 28 points for San Antonio. The Spurs' second-half dominance proved decisive, outscoring Portland 73-35 after the intermission. San Antonio will attempt to clinch the series in game five on Tuesday.

Lakers Stumble Despite Star Efforts

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James struggled significantly, converting just two of nine field goal attempts for 10 points while distributing nine assists but committing eight turnovers. The Lakers remain without injured scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Centre Deandre Ayton paced Los Angeles with 19 points and 10 rebounds before drawing an ejection in the third quarter for striking Rockets centre Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm.

For Houston, Tari Eason added 20 points while Sengun contributed 19. The Rockets pursue history, attempting to become the first NBA team to overcome a 0-3 playoff series deficit.

Celtics Dismantle 76ers; Raptors Edge Cavaliers

Boston's offensive firepower proved overwhelming in Philadelphia, where the Celtics launched 24 three-pointers. Payton Pritchard led from the bench with 32 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 30 points alongside seven rebounds and 11 assists. Boston established a 16-point advantage after the opening quarter and maintained double-digit leads throughout.

Joel Embiid made his return for Philadelphia following emergency appendectomy surgery on April 9, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds. However, the 76ers lacked sufficient firepower to counter Boston's three-point barrage.

Toronto's matchup against Cleveland proved tightly contested. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram each scored 23 points for the Raptors, who struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just four of 30 attempts. Despite trailing by five points with 2:10 remaining, Toronto orchestrated a decisive 9-0 scoring run to secure the victory.

Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 20 points, with James Harden adding 19. Mitchell's two missed attempts in the final 30 seconds proved costly as Barnes sealed the outcome with six consecutive free throws.