Lakers' Luke Kennard, LeBron James have been connected for a long time
Kennard was the hero in Game 1.
Lakers' Luke Kennard, LeBron James have been connected for a long time originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Los Angeles Lakers needed Luke Kennard in Game 1.
And the lefty sharpshooter with a 15-year connection to LeBron James teamed with the King to claim a Game 1 postseason victory over the Houston Rockets . Kennard was brilliant: He scored 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting, including 5-for-5 from 3-point range. He added four rebounds and three assists.
It all just feels kind of fitting. The Lakers traded for Kennard before the deadline this season, knowing that a shooting wizard like him is exactly the right partner for an offense with LeBron, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves making plays for their teammates. Unfortunately for the Lakers, though, Doncic and Reaves are both out with injuries.
That left James and his supporting cast to try and beat the Rockets. Houston was without Kevin Durant for Game 1, so everyone was missing something. Only the Lakers had Kennard, and that was the difference.