Rui Hachimura turns in career performance as Lakers stun Grizzlies in Game 1 of 2023 NBA Playoffs

Gilbert McGregor

•
Rui Hachimura turns in career performance as Lakers stun Grizzlies in Game 1 of 2023 NBA Playoffs image

Coming into the NBA Playoffs, it was evident that Rui Hachimura could be an X-factor for the Lakers. It took him exactly one game to do just that.

In just the sixth playoff game of his career (and his first as a Laker), Hachimura turned in a career performance to help propel the team to a 16-point victory in Game 1. In 30 minutes of action off the bench, Hachimura set a new playoff career high with 29 points (on 11-of-14 shooting) to go along with six rebounds.

After entering the halftime break with eight points, Hachimura went into another mode in the second half. In the third quarter, he heated up from behind the arc to keep the Lakers in position to compete and ultimately steal home court in Game 1.

Hachimiura's 29 points in a reserve role ties a Lakers record set by Mychal Thompson during the franchise's run to the 1988 NBA title. His Game 1 performance could be a sign of things to come for an LA team with aspirations to make a deep run.

Rui Hachimura's third quarter takeover

Just how impactful was Hachimura in the third frame? A flawless shot chart tells the story.

Rui Hachimura shot chart 041623
(NBA)

Hachimura made Memphis pay for its defensive rotations, scoring 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc as LA outscored its opponent 37-25 in the third quarter.

Prior to Sunday's Game 1, the most 3s Hachimura had ever made in one game was four. In Game 1 of the series, Hachimura matched that total in five minutes and 33 seconds of game time.

He wasn't done in the third, either…

Rui Hachimura steps up in the clutch

The Lakers again called on Hachimura in the final frame and he stepped up to the challenge.

Hachimura added nine more points in the final frame to bring his total to a game-high 29 points. And wasn't just the fact that he scored, it was the ways in which he did so.

In the fourth quarter, Hachimura punched home an emphatic dunk to put the Lakers up three points and a few possessions later, he dished out an incredible spinning assist to Austin Reaves, who put the Lakers up four points with a triple to beat the shot clock.

Reaves would return the favor with a behind-the-back assist to Hachimura, who sank his fifth triple of the game.

Hachimura's fourth-quarter showing also included an impressive turnaround jumper and a breakaway slam to close the book on Game 1 and bring his total to 29 points in the game. 

In a series that features stars like Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, the series will be won based on which players can step up and star in their respective roles.

Hachimura's Game 1 performance was a resounding statement and an encouraging sign for the Lakers in their aim to pull off a first-round upset.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.