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Rui Hachimura Helps Lakers Edge Pelicans in NBA Play-In Tournament

Los Angeles Lakers starting forward Rui Hachimura had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting in a narrow victory on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 17, 2024

Ed Odeven

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones during the second half of an NBA Play-In Tournament game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on April 16, 2024. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY SPORTS)

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By beating the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 16, Rui Hachimura and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the playoffs.

Up next: A rematch with the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, who eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs in the 2022-23 season with a four-game sweep in the Western Conference finals.

The No 2 Nuggets will play host to the Lakers, the West's No 7 seed, in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 20.

To secure a spot in the playoffs, Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham's team received a big boost from its starting five in New Orleans. Led by LeBron James (23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists), all five starters reached double figures in points. Guard D'Angelo Russell had 21 points, including five 3-pointers, and six assists. Big man Anthony Davis chipped in with 20 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Guard Austin Reaves added 16 points and six assists.

*Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots over Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels in the second half. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY SPORTS)*

Power forward Hachimura contributed 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, making both of his 3-point shots. He added one rebound, one assist and one steal in nearly 33 minutes of court time.

Davis praised the collective effort of Lakers players not named Davis and James on Tuesday, noting the duo shot a combined 12-for-36 in the win over the Pelicans, who had a 49-33 record in the regular season.

"The way those guys played kept us in the game, got us the big lead and ultimately won the game for us," Davis told reporters after the game.

Los Angeles led 60-50 at halftime.

Rui Hachimura Makes Solid Scoring Contributions in the 3rd Quarter

Hachimura scored eight points in the third quarter, including a layup at the 6:21 mark to put LA ahead 75-57.

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.