Lakers push past Grizzlies in Game 1 after Ja Morant’s late exit

Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score a team-high 29 points, LeBron James and Anthony Davis both posted double-doubles, and the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers scored a Game 1 road win over the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, 128-112, on Sunday, April 16 (Monday, April 17, Manila time).

In his sixth career playoff game, the 25-year-old Hachimura erupted for a playoff career high in scoring by shooting 11 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 6 from beyond the three-point arc. All five of his made three-point attempts came in the second half to spark Los Angeles to a 1-0 series lead.

It was the first time in Hachimura’s four-year NBA career that he had knocked down five three-pointers in a game.

Hachimura was one of four Lakers to score at least 21 points, joined by Austin Reaves with 23 in his first career postseason game. Davis added 22 points and James scored 21. Davis also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, and 3 steals.

James secured 11 rebounds, blocked 3 shots, and made 2 steals. D’Angelo Russell chipped in another 19 points and 7 assists in the win.

Los Angeles used two big runs in the fourth quarter to take command, the latter a game-ending 15-0 outburst three minutes after Memphis All-Star Ja Morant went to the locker room with a hand injury.

The Lakers pulled ahead previously with a 10-0 run, a stretch that lasted 3:10 and proved significant for more than just Los Angeles’ spurt.

Amid the run, Morant attacked the rim but Anthony Davis stepped just in front of the charge circle to draw an offensive foul. Morant came down awkwardly and had to leave for the locker room in a scene not unlike Davis’ own exit from the Lakers’ lineup just before halftime.

While Davis returned after intermission from the 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 after Morant’s exit that cut a seven-point deficit down to one, 113-112. Jaren Jackson Jr. capped the modest Memphis run with a three-pointer, the last of his game-high 31 points – and the final points the Grizzlies scored all game.

Memphis closed on a 3:11 drought, during which Los Angeles got 7 straight points from Reaves. Before his own mini-run, Reaves also set up Hachimura for the last of his three-pointers with a behind-the-back pass for an assist. – Rappler.com