Tennessee, April 17 (US): Rui Hachimura comes off the bench to score 29 points, LeBron James and Anthony Davis each score double-doubles, and the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers score a road win in Game 1. No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, 128-112 on Sunday.
In his sixth career playoff game, the 25-year-old Hachimura went on a career playoff high scoring 11-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-6 from outside the 3-point arc. All five of his three-point attempts came in the second half to put Los Angeles up 1-0.
It was the first time in Hachimura’s four-year NBA career that he had hit five three-pointers in one game, according to Reuters.
Hachimura was one of four Lakers to score at least 21 points, and they were joined by Austin Reeves with 23 points in his first game of the postseason. Davis added 22 points and James 21. Davis also recorded 12 rebounds, seven blocked shots and three tackles.
James grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked three shots and had two steals. D’Angelo Russell scored another 19 points and seven assists in the win.
Los Angeles used two big fourth-quarter runs to take the lead, with the latter at the end of the game blew 15-0 three minutes after Memphis All-Star Ja Morant went to the locker room with a hand injury.
The Lakers previously led 10-0, a stretch that lasted 3:10 and proved crucial to more than just Los Angeles’ spurt.
In the heat of the race, Morant attacked the edge but Anthony Davis stepped up in front of the charging circuit for an offensive foul. Morant fell awkwardly and had to leave for the locker room in a scene not unlike Davis’ exit from the Lakers lineup before halftime.
While Davis returned after a break from an apparent arm injury, Memphis played the final 5:48 without Morant, who finished with 18 points.
The Grizzlies initially responded with an 11-5 run following a Morant walkout that cut a seven-point deficit to one, 113-112. Jaren Jackson Jr. capped off a lowly Memphis three-pointer, the last of his game-high 31 points and the final points scored by the Grizzlies in all games.
Memphis closed out a 3:11 drought, during which Los Angeles took seven straight points from Reeves. Before his short run, Reavis also set up Hachimura for Hachimura’s last three-pointers with a behind-the-back assist.
WWA