Deandre Ayton’s premature departure in Game 4 against the Rockets adds a twist to the Lakers’ strategy. Assessed a Flagrant 2 for a foul on Alperen Şengün, Ayton wrapped his night with a strong stat line of 19 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Jaxson Hayes is expected to see increased court time as the Lakers adjust to fill the void left by Ayton’s first career ejection.