Deandre Ayton Explains First-Career Ejection After Elbow to Alperen Sengun
deandre-ayton-discusses-ejection-after-elbow-to-alperen-sengun
HOUSTON — Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton said his elbow to Alperen Sengun’s head was accidental after the play led to Ayton’s first NBA ejection during Game 4 of the first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
The incident occurred with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter on April 26, 2026, at Toyota Center. As Sengun drove to the basket, Ayton’s right elbow struck the Rockets center above the shoulders. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, automatically sending Ayton to the locker room.
“I was really just trying to brace for contact with Sengun,” Ayton said afterward. “We’re both sweaty guys and I just slipped off his shoulder. My elbow hit him above his shoulders. It looked crazy on camera, but I’m not a dirty player. It definitely wasn’t intentional.”
The ejection interrupted Ayton’s strongest outing of the series. He had 19 points and 10 rebounds on 9-for-12 shooting in 25 minutes, providing much of the Lakers’ scoring on a night when the rest of the roster struggled. Los Angeles trailed 3-1 entering the fourth quarter and ultimately dropped the contest, though the club still holds a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
LeBron James defended his teammate, saying the replay showed Ayton preparing for contact rather than attempting a deliberate elbow. “You’ve got to be pretty damn good to just completely elbow someone like that on purpose,” James said. “His arm slipped.”
Ayton, now in his eighth NBA season, noted that the flagrant was his first career ejection. The Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena for Game 5 on Wednesday night with a chance to close out the series.
Source: LakersNation.com
