Good morning to everyone but especially to…
THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Three months ago, Austin Reaves was sidelined with a hamstring injury and Rui Hachimura was stuck on a Wizards team going nowhere. Sunday, they played starring roles as the Lakers beat the Grizzlies, 128-111, to take Game 1 in Memphis.
Reaves scored 14 points in the fourth quarter — including nine straight and an emphatic “I’m him” scream — and finished with 23 points. Hachimura had 29 points in his playoff debut, tying the Lakers playoff record for a bench player.Add in 22 points from Anthony Davis and 21 from LeBron James, and it was the first time the Lakers had four 20-point scorers in a playoff game since 1988. The names then: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott and James Worthy.The Lakers closed the game on a 15-0 run and outscored Memphis 30-11 over the final 8:40.The Lakers have won 24 straight best-of-seven series after winning Game 1.
The Lakers turned a major weakness into a strength in Game 1, writes our Sam Quinn.
… AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers may not have had Paul George (and may not have him at all this series), but they have exactly what Russell Westbrook pointed to after making a game-sealing block: heart.
Behind a 38-point Kawhi Leonard masterclass and clutch plays on both ends down the stretch, the Clippers shocked the Suns, 115-110, in Game 1 in Phoenix.
Leonard scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, and Westbrook had a huge impact throughout: Despite shooting just 3-19, he had 10 rebounds (five offensive), eight assists, two steals and three blocks.The Clippers won second-chance points, 12-7, and points off turnovers, 15-5.This is the first time the Suns have lost with Kevin Durant in the lineup…..
