Kevin Durant Goes Viral for Taunting Deandre Ayton After Ejection

[ad_1] Houston Rockets 16-time All-Star ahead Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers middle Deandre Ayton had been briefly teammates on the Phoenix Suns in the course of the 2022-23 NBA season.

They weren't pleasant on Sunday night time.

Durant's Rockets blew out the Lakers, 115-96, in Sport 4 of their first-round playoff collection on the Toyota Middle in Houston. Durant didn't play because of a bone bruise within the sprained ankle that stored the two-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP out of Sport 3, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.

Ayton began for the Lakers, however he joined Durant on the inactive checklist within the third quarter.

<img id="11881144" alt="" caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives against Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" captionoverride="HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives against Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="3004" height="2003" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2267338880.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> With 5:41 remaining within the third, Ayton elbowed Rockets All-Star middle Alperen Sengun within the facet of his face. He was controversially assessed a flagrant 2 and ejected for "pointless and extreme" contact.

"Lakers are shocked," The Athletic's Dan Woike relayed on X. "A number of gamers go to argue on his behalf. Was a clear elbow to the face. Meets elements of the standards. Laborious time considering it was intentional."

Whatever the foul's legitimacy, Durant added to his legacy as one of many biggest meme turbines of our time when he was seen waving goodbye to Ayton from the sideline:

Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 general choose, departed the sport because the Lakers' main scorer on the night time with 19 factors on 9-of-12 taking pictures from the ground, plus 10 rebounds.

Lakers rookie ahead Adou Thiero and Rockets veteran guard Aaron Vacation had been additionally ejected throughout rubbish time.

Durant and the Rockets might have lived to struggle one other sport, successful their first sport of the collection to stave off a sweep, however the Lakers are nonetheless favored to finish Houston's season sooner or later over the subsequent week. At which level, whereas hilarious, Durant's response to Ayton's ejection will possible come again to chew him.

Charania reported that Durant's harm would usually sideline him for 2 to a few weeks within the common season. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka advised reporters that Durant's "ache from the bone bruise" and "restricted mobility" are what stored him out of Sport 4, and intimated that Durant wouldn't be out there anytime quickly.

In the meantime, Lakers guard Austin Reaves was a game-time choice earlier than being dominated out for Sport 4. He suffered a Grade 2 indirect muscle pressure earlier this month, and his availability for Sport 5 stays unclear.

The Lakers are additionally with out All-NBA and All-Star guard Luka Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring pressure on April 2. Charania reported final week that Los Angeles doesn't count on Doncic again on this Rockets collection.

Whereas the Rockets are with out their NBA Mount Rushmore star, the Lakers nonetheless have LeBron James, 41, who's trying to enhance to 33-0 all-time when his workforce takes a 2-0 lead in a playoff collection.