On Friday, Los Angeles Lakers coaches and players surprised sharpshooter Luke Kennard with a trophy for leading the NBA in three-point percentage, a day before Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
Kennard — who shot a league-best 47.8% from 3-point range this season — was caught off guard when Lakers head coach JJ Redick honored him with the trophy.
“We have a member of our team who won an NBA statistical award this year for the highest three-point percentage in the NBA this season,” Redick said.
At this point, Kennard’s teammates began shouting “Luuuke” and “Shooter” as they dapped him up for winning the NBA-awarded trophy.
Kennard made 1.5 threes per game from 3.1 attempts across 78 games this season. He played 46 games for the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Lakers.
Lakers vs. Rockets Series
Kennard is expected to start in Game 1 vs. Houston next to Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton. The southpaw was inserted into the starting unit in the final week of the regular season due to injuries. He responded impressively, averaging 12.2 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his final five games.
The Lakers won the last two regular-season matchups against the Rockets in March, but that was with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the lineup. In the absence of their top two scorers, the Lakers enter the series as +440 underdogs.
The Athletic wrote: “The Lakers won two of three regular-season meetings. That first game was in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, and it turned into a Rockets rout behind Thompson’s 26 points and Durant’s 25.
“The others were in Houston across a three-day stretch. On March 16, the Lakers warped their hosts to 5-of-26 struggles (19.2 percent) from beyond the arc. On March 18, L.A. made 15 of its 32 treys (46.9 percent) and topped 60 percent from the floor.
“Now for the much-needed caveat: Dončić balled out in both Ws. He averaged 38 points in those two March games. But James more than held his own in the second one, a near-perfect 30-piece on 13-for-14 shooting.”
Lakers Try to Extend Series
Some insiders believe both Doncic and Reaves could return to the lineup if the Lakers can extend the series beyond four or five games.
The Athletic highlighted the history of the Lakers vs. Rockets playoff matchup.
“The Lakers lead the all-time series 6-3. The Rockets claimed the first two matchups, including a 4-1 stunner in the 1986 Western Conference finals. Hakeem Olajuwon went for an absurd 31 points and 6.2 stocks (steals+blocks) per game, which put his side ahead of the “Showtime” dynasty.”
“Ralph Sampson clinched it at the Forum with a last-second volley. Olajuwon and the “Clutch City” Rockets won a first-round series in 1996 as well.”
Game 1 of the series tips off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers Make Surprising Move Before Playoffs Game 1 Vs. Rockets