Highlights

Lakers-Rockets Showdown Reveals Houston’s Hidden Struggles—Can They Bounce Back?

Lakers-Rockets Showdown Reveals Houston's Hidden Struggles—Can They Bounce Back?

Because of the national storylines that have dominated this series — one more matchup between LeBron James and Durant, the absences of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves — not much attention has been paid to Rui Hachimura, the calm, composed presence paying dividends for an in-control Lakers team.

Hachimura, averaging a modest 13.5 points this series, absolutely lit up the Rockets for 16 first-quarter points on 6-of-6 shooting, giving the Lakers an adequate cushion in an important road Game 3.

Head coach JJ Redick has used Hachimura in a plethora of ways; as a screen setter for ball-handers, as a floor spacer and also as a play finisher. His combination of size and high release point makes him a difficult cover for any of Houston’s defenders, and his quiet consistency has been a bright spot all season and a much-needed source of scoring while Dončić and Reaves remain sidelined. Hachimura finished with 22 points and hit four of his seven 3-point attempts.

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