Luke Kennard has been a breakout playoff performer for the Los Angeles Lakers during the opening round against the Houston Rockets, and the gutsiness allowing him to step up in the stead of injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves was on display at the end of Game 4 during a confrontation with the referees.
L.A. lost its first contest of the series on Sunday night, as Houston avoided a sweep in its home arena. Following the match, Marcus Smart got into an animated back-and-forth with officials, which spurred Kennard’s reaction and ended with both players catching fines from the NBA.
“Smart was fined $35,000 for ‘questioning the integrity of game officials’ and Kennard was fined $25,000 for ‘directing inappropriate language toward games officials,’ according to James Jones, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations,” Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported.
Kennard spoke with media members on Tuesday, April 28, one day before the Lakers return to action at Crypto.com Arena with a chance to advance to Round 2 against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I’ll always have my teammates’ backs. Not much other to say than that,” Kennard said. “I’ve got to be a little bit more composed and under control, can’t let the emotions get the best of me.”
Lakers Looking to Close Out Rockets in Los Angeles
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wednesday could be an emotional night in Los Angeles, as the Lakers have a chance to win their first playoff series in three years.
The game could mark both the return of Reaves from a Grade 2 oblique strain after 27 days on the sidelines, as well as a last hoorah of sorts for 41-year-old LeBron James who was excellent through the first three games of the series while leading L.A. to a 3-0 lead.
James graciously stepped aside and into the role of third banana offensively, allowing the considerably younger Doncic and Reaves to shine down the stretch of the season. That selflessness from the four-time MVP and four-time champion unlocked the best play of the year in Los Angeles, as the Lakers won 16 of 18 contests and appeared bound for the No. 3 seed.
Disaster struck in Oklahoma City on April 2, as Reaves and Doncic each went down with significant injuries, the latter straining a hamstring that is likely to keep him out until some point early in Round 2 — should Los Angeles finish off the Rockets either Wednesday night or in Game 6 or Game 7.
Austin Reaves Sounds Ready to Return for Lakers Wednesday
GettyAustin Reaves (left) and Luka Doncic (right) of the Los Angeles Lakers.
As for Reaves, the team has listed him as questionable heading into each of the last two contests, only to render him a late scratch each time.
However, the feeling is a bit different as the Lakers head home for Game 5.
“I feel good,” Reaves told reporters Tuesday. “I want to get back out there as fast as I can. But like I said, I feel good and trending in the right direction and can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and attack another day.”
Reaves’ return would lighten some of the load on James from an on-ball playmaking and scoring standpoint.
Wrapping up the series in Game 5 would prove something of an ideal outcome for L.A. as well, in that it would afford James some needed rest before Round 2 while also providing Reaves a chance to get back onto the court and into some real action before a showdown with the juggernaut Thunder after their first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns.
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