Being called out by Devin Booker wasn’t enough, because referee James Williams found himself in the hot seat again. This time, it’s not just Los Angeles Lakers veteran LeBron James; even their opponents on the night publicly questioned the official’s decision, who has spent more than 14 seasons in the NBA. All the chaos unfolded after a Flagrant 2 foul call and the subsequent ejection of Deandre Ayton. You’d be mistaken if you thought the controversy ended there.

Last night’s game was a must-win contest for the Houston Rockets, who were on the brink of elimination. Things got worse after Kevin Durant was ruled out only a few hours before tip-off. The Lakers, heavy favorites, surprisingly struggled to establish a focal point for much of the game. But it didn’t matter because Ayton was handed marching orders, along with Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday, which severely reduced the intensity of the result while preventing a sweep.

“I’m more pissed off about them kicking Adou out, that was uncalled for, and it made no sense,” James said. “Think that’s his first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. Give him two technicals? The kid just got into the game. That was ridiculous.” The rookie forward also received immense support from Luka Doncic, who told him in the locker room that he would pay whatever fine the NBA ultimately issues, according to insider Dave McMenamin. Did he even do anything unsportsmanlike, though?

Thiero, who entered the game midway through the fourth quarter, was ejected after receiving a tech with 1:11 remaining. This brought an early end to his memorable first postseason appearance, during which he scored his first basket with an emphatic alley-oop dunk over Dorian Finney-Smith. But he got caught up under the basket with Holiday, and both exchanged words. They were then surprisingly thrown out a quarter after Ayton was tossed from Game 4…

With 5:41 remaining in the third quarter, Sengun charged into the paint, but was stopped right in his tracks by the Lakers’ big man. What had initially appeared to be a harmless nudge looked worse on the replay when everybody saw Ayton’s left wrist ram into Sengun’s jaw. After reviewing the footage, Williams assessed him a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected him. Durant, who was on the bench, sarcastically waved him goodbye, adding to the drama. Now, Ayton agreed that it “looked crazy on camera,” but he clarified that it was a complete accident.

“I was really just trying to brace for the contact with Sengun, and we both are sweaty guys,” the Laker said. “I just slipped off his shoulder. My elbow hit him right there above the shoulder… I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or who plays like that.” It was the first time Ayton had been ejected in his eight-year NBA career, and the Purple and Gold head coach expected some explanation for both ejections to reach his camp, but it never did.

“I didn’t get a great explanation on Adou,” JJ Redick said. “I’m sure James will give you that. DA, he’s got such a sweet, kind soul. That wasn’t dirty or intentional. He was trying to brace himself with that off arm against Sengun’s body, and it looked like his arm just kind of slipped. I don’t think DA would ever do anything malicious.” Ayton had scored 19 points in Game 1 and then just 8 points combined in the next two. The big man knew he would have to increase his intensity, and he did exactly that in Game 4. With 19 points and 10 rebounds, Ayton was the Lakers’ only consistent source of offense in the blowout loss.

However, to everyone’s surprise, even Sengun couldn’t believe the referee’s call! “I don’t want to make the officials crazy, but I didn’t expect him to be ejected,” Sengun said with a smirk. “I think it was a little bit soft. I’m glad they called it.” The Rockets’ head coach read between the lines and revealed Ayton’s intentions, but Ime Udoka couldn’t believe what transpired after the review. “It looked intentional. I was surprised it was a flagrant 2. But that’s the NBA nowadays, and they call it a little softer than they used to,” Udoka said.

Again, this doesn’t change the fact that the LeBron James-led Lakers had a dreadful night from beyond the arc (5-for-22, 23 percent). The 41-year-old veteran finished with 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting. But it raises questions about the standard of refereeing. Just days ago, Devin Booker called Williams out, saying he never got an explanation for the techs issued in his name during the Suns-Thunder series. His words questioning the league’s integrity handed him a $35,000 fine, and his tech was rescinded without a detailed explanation, drawing more scrutiny over the transparency all around…

The Rockets have done nowhere near enough to claw their way back into the Lakers series; is it too late?

LA managed to activate Deandre Ayton in Game 4 after Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, and Rui Hachimura bailed them out in the first three games, respectively. The common factor here, though, is that LeBron James has continued to fire baskets, unlike last night, when he couldn’t get going. That offensive gap in Austin Reaves’ and Luka Doncic’s absence proved super-detrimental. Now, it’s no secret that Houston’s defense is operating at a commendable level, even without Kevin Durant. They’ve held the Lakers to 21 points or fewer in four of the last six quarters, excluding overtime in Game 3.

Alperen Sengun and Co. are also generating turnovers and converting those points efficiently. On Sunday itself, Houston recorded 17 steals, tying a franchise playoff record. 41-year-old James alone committed 8 turnovers of his team’s 23. So, the Rockets are improving, but Reaves could be back as soon as Wednesday, and LA will then turn into a tougher attacking force to contain. Further, to Durant’s misery, the series moves back to LA for Game 5. It’s seriously doubtful that he’d make it back in time after being diagnosed with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle.

The Slim Reaper is on around-the-clock treatment, but it really depends on how his injury heals. “He had swelling in the days to come, and the bone bruise created further swelling, stiffness, and lack of mobility in the ankle, sources said,” according to ESPN. Even though he has turned up to practice and film sessions, the Purple and Gold can (most likely) run with the idea that Durant won’t make it back in time for Game 5, and Game 6 if there is one.