Kennard’s Hot Streak
- Luke Kennard exploded for 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting and was 4-for-4 from three late in Game 1. (x.com) - His scoring spurt helped push the Lakers to a 16-point lead with 7:57 remaining in that quarter. (x.com) - Social clips also showed Kennard and LeBron hitting back-to-back threes during the run. (x.com) (x.com)
Luke Kennard gave the Lakers a playoff scoring jolt on April 18, pouring in a career-high 27 points in a 107-98 Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets. (espn.com) Kennard shot 9-for-13 from the field and 5-for-5 from three, while LeBron James added 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in Los Angeles. (espn.com) The Lakers opened the first round without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, whose combined regular-season scoring average was 56.8 points, and James shifted into a playmaking role with eight assists in the first quarter alone. (espn.com) Houston also entered Game 1 short-handed after Kevin Durant was ruled out with right knee soreness, and the Rockets never fully recovered from Los Angeles’ 33-point first quarter. (espn.com) Kennard’s burst changed the shape of the game because it gave the Lakers a perimeter scorer while two primary guards sat in street clothes. His 27 points were a playoff career high. (espn.com) James and Kennard also connected during the run that stretched the lead, with ESPN’s game coverage highlighting back-to-back threes that pushed Los Angeles ahead by 16. (espn.com) The Lakers finished the regular season 53-29 and took a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series with the home win. Houston finished 52-30 and scored 32 points in the fourth quarter, but the early deficit held up. (espn.com) For one night, the Lakers’ missing stars were not the story. Kennard was, and Los Angeles now goes into Game 2 with a series lead and proof it can generate offense another way. (espn.com)
