Despite a gritty Game 4 win, the Houston Rockets are on the brink of playoff elimination. They could go deeper into win-now territory this offseason.

After leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a comeback win over the Houston Rockets in Game 3, LeBron James had a stinker in Game 4.

Amen Thompson scored 23 points, Tari Eason added 20 and the Rockets, playing without Kevin Durant, avoided elimination with a 115-96 rout of the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series Sunday night.

Houston reverted to its pre-Kevin Durant play style in Game 4, but that could be the key to a comeback against Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was hit in the face by Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton in Game 4.

“I didn’t give up on this series, and I just wanted to let everybody know,” Alperen Sengun says of his shootaround speech before Rockets-Lakers Game 4.

The Houston Rockets found some success in different areas on the floor that could lead to more success in future games.

The Rockets' multiple mistakes at the end of regulation led to an eventual OT loss and pushed their season to the brink of elimination.

We'll have updates and analysis throughout the night as the Rockets face elimination against the Lakers. in Game 4.

The Rockets seemed to still have a fighting feeling after Game 4, as Jae'Sean Tate wanted a piece of Max Kleber.