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Rui Hachimura Contributes to Lakers’ NBA Play-In Tournament Victory Over Pelicans…………………………
Rui Hachimura, the starting forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a close road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Rui Hachimura and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the postseason on Tuesday, April 16, after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Next up: A rematch against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games to eliminate them from the postseason in the 2022–2023 Western Conference finals.
On Saturday, April 20, the No. 2 Nuggets will face the No. 7-seeded Lakers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham’s club needed a major lift from their starting five in New Orleans to guarantee a postseason berth. With LeBron James leading the way (23 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists), all five starters scored in double figures. Guard D’Angelo Russell finished with 21 points, six assists, and five 3-pointers. Anthony Davis, a big man, contributed three blocks, 15 rebounds, and 20 points. Austin Reaves, a guard, contributed 16 points and six assists.
Hachimura, a power forward, scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, hitting both of his three-pointers. In over 33 minutes on the floor, he added one steal, one assist, and one rebound.
On Tuesday, Davis complimented the teamwork of Lakers players who aren’t named James and Davis, pointing out that they shot a combined 12-for-36 in the victory over the Pelicans, who finished the regular season with a 49-33 record.
After the game, Davis told reporters, “The way those guys played kept us in the game, got us the big lead, and ultimately won the game for us.”
At the break, Los Angeles had a 60–50 lead.
Third-quarter scoring contributions from Rui Hachimura are strong.
In the third quarter, Hachimura scored eight points, including a layup that gave LA a 75-57 lead at 6:21.