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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

LA Lakers center Deandre Ayton was slapped with his first-ever ejection in an NBA game after hitting Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun with an inadvertent elbow during Game 4 of their first-round series. 

Ayton was not pleased about the call, a flagrant foul penalty 2 in the  5:41 mark of the third quarter. Ayton said that his arm only slipped while bracing the contact against Sengun, resulting in his elbow hitting Sengun. 

“I was really just trying to brace the contact of Sengun and we’re both sweaty guys,” Ayton said.  “I just slipped off his shoulder and it literally my elbow hit him right there above his shoulders.”

Ayton admitted that video replays may have indicated a worse action, but the seven-foot center knew what he did was far from intentional and not in his nature as a player. 

“It looked crazy on camera, but I’m not no guy who’s a dirty player or plays like that,” he said. “If anything of me trying to play dirty, I damn near hurt myself. I just hope he’s alright, and don’t think it was intentional. I was just playing hard…the outcome of what the results were, I accept it. Definitely wasn’t intentional. It is my first ejection. 8 years later and it’s my first one”

The call, however, barely made a dent in the result as the Rockets dominated the Lakers for the entirety of the second half to take their first win in the series. The Lakers still lead the series, 3-1. 

Sengun had 19 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Ayton led the Lakers with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of playing time. 

Rockets Also Think The Ayton Ejection Was Soft

GettyDeandre Ayton got ejected after hitting Alperen Sengun.

The Houston Rockets also agreed on Ayton’s sentiments about the play, saying that it was a soft call for an official in a playoff game. 

Sengun was particularly critical about the call, but he was glad it was noticed by the officials. 

“I don’t want to make the officials crazy, but I didn’t expect him to get ejected, to be honest,” he said. “I think it was a little bit soft.”

Meanwhile, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka believed Ayton’s hit was intentional, yet he was stunned that they called it a disqualifying flagrant foul. 

“It looked intentional, but I was surprised it was a flagrant 2,” Udoka said. 

After the call, Rockets’ Kevin Durant stood on the bench and waved goodbye to Ayton, who barely talked after hearing the referees’ call. 

James Williams was the referee who blew the whistle. He was the same official Devin Booker called out in a press conference after the Phoenix Suns lost to the OKC Thunder in Game 2. 

JJ Redick Defends Deandre Ayton

GettyJJ Redick speaks up about Deandre Ayton’s character.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was the first to defend his player after the ejection. Redick said that Ayton was such a kind person that he would never do any dirty action against any opposing player, citing his clean ejection record before the game. 

“A sweet, just, like, kind soul,” Redick described Ayton following his ejection. 

Lakers’ Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday also were ejected in the final minute of the game after a heated tussle. 

Game 5 of the series is on Wednesday, April 29, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time.