Lakers role player makes history in Game 1 against Rockets, could he save the season next?
When the decibel level inside Crypto.com Arena surpasses 100 dB you typically know which superstar caused it. Maybe Luka Doncic just hit a one-legged three as he fell into the first row. Maybe LeBron James just threw down a thunderous one-handed slam off the fast break. Maybe Austin Reaves just broke a defender’s ankles with a crossover and hit a fadeaway jumper plus the foul. But on Saturday night for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers the noise was for someone else, someone nobody expected. It was for Luke Kennard. Kennard is the type of player that most teams treat like a luxury, not a lifeline.But without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Kennard had the Lakers looking organized and dangerous. Kennard didn’t just step into a bigger role in the Lakers’ 107-98 Game 1 win over the Rockets.
He hijacked the entire premise of this series.Houston came in expecting to load up on LeBron and dare the other Lakers’ players to beat them. Kennard didn’t just accept the dare.
He embarrassed it. “That was my matchup and he went off, I gotta be better than that,” said Rockets’ forward Amen Thompson, who is one of the best defenders in the NBA, and was tasked with the assignment of guarding Kennard in Game 1. Kennard torched the Rockets to the tune of 27 points.He was a perfect 5-for-5 from three.
He achieved a milestone in the process, becoming just the third player in franchise playoff history to hit 100% from deep on five or more attempts, joining Robert Horry (1997) and Byron Scott (1991). It was also the second most points scored by a player in their Lakers playoff debut.“I like that he was invested in shooting threes.He played a fantastic basketball game,” head coach JJ Redick said.
“He was really aggressive tonight.”Aggressive is the right word.But incomplete.Kennard wasn’t just aggressive — he was decisive.
There’s a difference, and it matters in the playoffs.Aggression can be reck...