The frustration from Game 4 lingered far beyond the final buzzer. The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves battling not just the Houston Rockets but also a string of controversial officiating decisions. Now, isn’t that a familiar story? Especially during the playoffs. Five technical fouls were assessed, including one on Deandre Ayton, where even Alperen Sengun felt his ejection was “soft.” Naturally, Marcus Smart was among several players who commented on the officiating and has, as expected, been handed punishment.

Smart had some words for James Williams, the head official, and he didn’t hesitate to speak his mind. It started right after the game when the Lakers player walked toward his teammates and the referee in question. Smart pointed at and exchanged words with Williams before LeBron James pulled him away. But he didn’t let the matter go and soon took verbal jabs in front of reporters, which prompted the league to issue its latest penalty.

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, Smart was fined $35,000 for “questioning the integrity of game officials.” Along with him, sharpshooter Luke Kennard, who failed to hit a single three-pointer for the first time in the series, received a $25,000 fine for “directing inappropriate language towards the referees.” Let’s dissect what Smart and Kennard said to warrant five-digit fines after an unexpected loss to the Rockets.

“We all understood it was some BS,” Smart said after voicing out why he thinks big man Ayton shouldn’t have been tossed. It is this sentence that specifically would’ve gotten him into trouble. The last time Smart was fined the same amount, it was for making an obscene gesture towards an official during a game against the Utah Jazz in December. On the other hand, Luke Kennard had made a sarcastic comment when he called the commotion on the court “hilarious, very hilarious,” after the game. That is possibly what led to his fine, the first of its kind for a player who has never received more than a $2,000 penalty.

This is now the second game in a matter of days where players have raised their voices against officiating, leading to a similar result. Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker was fined $35,000 for his explosive comments in what he termed a “terrible” performance from Williams. The Lakers felt the same way. It wasn’t just the decision to eject Ayton for an inadvertent elbow to Sengun’s face. Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday were also tossed for arguing in the fourth quarter when the game lost all meaning. The Rockets dominated both ends of the floor. However, the call to remove Ayton cost LA the chance to close the series.

On the night, Ayton was the most comfortable of all Lakers scorers, getting 19 points and 10 rebounds before his expulsion. Smart has overseen his development, constantly praising the big man. In reality, though, LA did most of the hard work in the first three games of the series. They even got a win on the road. Hence, the Game 4 result didn’t matter as much. They’ll now return home to a passionate crowd. However, Smart and the Lakers aren’t taking their foot off the gas.

The Lakers obviously didn’t intend to lose Game 4, let alone be completely outplayed by the Rockets. In the postseason, all it takes is one game for momentum to change sides. So Smart was clear. Although the team is entering an environment conducive to achieving their goals, they still need to play with precision. “We came out, and tonight, and we tried,” Smart said after the last game. “We just didn’t have it. That’s part of it, but, they had the crowd behind them a little bit more energy because of that, but there’s no time for let up. Now, they got to come to our house, and we get our home crowd behind us, and we get that momentum to in our house, so, but no, definitely no let up.”

The Lakers still have the edge. Nobody expected that to be the case. They are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. With the Rockets having a better collection of talent, the Purple and Gold must deliver a spotless performance against a side that seems to have found its confidence after Game 4. That’s what those first three games were, including a stunning comeback in Game 3 that gave them a massive cushion in this series.

Those demands won’t change with a 3-1 scoreline. In short, the Lakers need to take Game 5 and finish this series. If the Rockets even get a sniff of victory, head coach Ime Udoka will chase it down with Sengun and a very competent defense that has consistently gotten the better of JJ Redick’s side. And with Game 6 going back to Houston, the Lakers could be in jeopardy if they don’t close out this series when at home. They risk giving Houston a chance of overturning a 3-0 deficit for the first time in NBA history.