Rui Hachimura caught fire off the bench during Game 1 vs. the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Hachimura finished the opening game of the series with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist, which included five three-pointers. Desmond Bane of the Grizzlies called it the best game of Rui’s career but also issued him a challenge ahead of the second game.
“That was our game plan going in – make him take shots,” Bane said. “He did. It’s probably the best game of his career. It’s a seven-game series. Let’s see if he can do it again Wednesday.”
“It was probably the best game he's had in his career. It’s a 7 game series, let’s see if he can do it again on Wednesday.”
Desmond Bane on Rui Hachimura’s big Game 1 performance 👀pic.twitter.com/88Yv2bioRL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 16, 2023
Hachimura’s scoring outburst, combined with Austin Reaves’ nine-point scoring run, helped the Lakers pull off a remarkable victory over the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter.
It helped LeBron James and Anthony Davis in staying fresh and ready for the Wednesday night matchup at the Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James Says He Motivated Rui Hachimura
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for Rui Hachimura earlier this season to bolster the depth of the roster. Since becoming a member of the Lakers, Hachimura has seemingly only gotten better.
After seeing his Game 1 performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, LeBron James shared how he unlocked Rui’s potential and motivated him.
“I think that’s just part of my leadership, being able to find what sparks every individual to try to reach their potential,” James said after the Lakers beat the Grizzlies. “It’s the same with Rui, I see the type of player he is, but he can become.”
Having players like Hachimura coming off the bench makes the Lakers a true dark horse to represent the Western Conference in the 2022-23 NBA Finals.
Apart from the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, opposing teams now have to be careful about not letting the likes of Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell get on a scoring run.
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