Desmond Bane unfazed by Lakers’ Rui Hachiumra’s Game 1: ‘Let’s see if he can do it again’
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It only took one hot quarter for Rui Hachimura to eclipse his season-high in 3-pointers. Multiple defensive breakdowns and slow closeouts to Hachimura allowed the Los Angeles Lakers forward to knock down five 3-pointers in a 128-112 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference series at FedExForum.
Hachimura entered the game shooting 29.6% on 3-pointers with the Lakers. He made five of his six attempts on Sunday. Five made 3-pointers surpassed his previous season high of three.
After Sunday’s loss, Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane revealed why Memphis isn’t overly concerned with Hachimura’s breakout shooting performance.
“That was our game plan going in,” Bane said. ” Make him hit shots, and he did. Tip your cap. That’s probably the best game he’s had in his career. Seven-game series, let’s see if he can do it again on Wednesday.”
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Game 2 is Wednesday (6:30 p.m., TNT) at FedExForum.
Hachimura led the Lakers with 29 points on 11-for-14 shooting. He had eight points at halftime before knocking down four 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Lakers outscored Memphis 37-25.
Hachimura reached 30 points twice this season while playing for the Washington Wizards, but this was Hachimura’s highest scoring performance as a Laker. His previous high was 20 points in a game he didn’t make a 3-pointer.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies not concerned after Lakers’ Rui Hachimura’s performance