Although the Los Angeles Lakers began their first-round matchup without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, LeBron James continued to fill an all-around role and it was Luke Kennard who led all scorers with 27 points against the Houston Rockets in Game 1.
Kennard initially provided the Lakers with a shooting threat off the bench upon being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks before the trade deadline, and now he’s essential to their starting lineup. His 27 points represented a playoff career-high, and Kennard’s marksmanship was on full display as he went 5-for-5 behind the arc.
In doing so, Kennard became the first Lakers player to make five 3-pointers without a miss in a playoff game since Robert Horry in 1997.
“Honestly, I feel like those games leading up to right now, I developed a rhythm kind of playing in that role. It gave me confidence going into the playoffs of doing more and being controlled, poised and looking for the shot when I can,” Kennard said after the Lakers’ 107-98 win.
“So tonight, there was no difference. Shots went in. Again, it’s just having that mentality of getting everybody organized when I can and the best shot available and just being aggressive.”
Byron Scott is also part of the sharpshooting club when he also went 5-for-5 on 3-pointers in a win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 1991 Western Conference Semifinals.
When Horry accomplished the feat he knocked down seven 3-pointers without a miss. However, those came in a 103-101 loss to the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of the Western Conference semis. The Lakers went on to get eliminated by the Jazz in five games.
Kennard and the current group of Lakers are looking to avoid a similar fate by pulling off what would technically be an upset in the first round. Doing so would potentially open the door for one or both of Doncic and Reaves to return.
Luke Kennard reacts to Game 1 win
The Lakers have taken early control of their matchup with the Rockets, which Kennard noted is significant.
“It was great. Obviously, it’s great to get the first one protecting the court (and) doing what we’re supposed to do. Overall, I thought we executed very well,” he said. “There’s obviously, our two main keys, the offensive rebounds and turnovers, struggled a little bit with both of those.
“Overall, pretty good. I thought the second quarter got away from us a little bit with turnovers. (We) got a little sloppy there, but we stayed poised and organized throughout that entire game. Credit to everybody, coaches, teammates, everybody for just believing in each other.
“(We) felt that the entire course of the game. Overall, like I said, it feels good to get the first.”
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
