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A14 sports
Monday 17 april 2023

Hachimura’s big 2nd half leads
LA past Memphis in Game 1

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) reacts during
Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against
the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, April 16, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn.
Andrey Rublev, of Russia, poses with his trophy after defeating Holger Rune, of Denmark, 5/7, 6/2, Associated Press
7/5 in the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters final match in Monaco, Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Associated Press By CLAY BAILEY
Associated Press
Rublev rallies to beat Rune in Monte MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Rui Hachimura had a career-best

Carlo Masters final playoff scoring performance with 29 points, including 21 in
the second half, and LeBron James added 21 points and
11 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis
Grizzlies 128-112 on Sunday in the opening game of their
MONACO (AP) — Andrey cause, you know, the most when Rublev misjudged a Western Conference playoff series.
Rublev rallied from 4-1 important tournament shot that landed right on Austin Reaves added 23 points, including nine straight in
down in the final set to beat of the clay season is the the line and mistimed his the closing minutes as the Lakers pulled away. Anthony
Holger Rune 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in French Open.” return to give Rune a break Davis had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and D’Angelo Rus-
the Monte Carlo Masters The crowd jeered him when point. He took it when sell, who scored only two points in the Lakers’ play-in win
final on Sunday for the first he hit the balls out and he Rublev’s loose forehand over the Minnesota Timberwolves, finished with 19 points.
Masters title of his career. sarcastically encouraged was too long. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 31 points, while Des-
The fifth-seeded Russian them to do so. But Rune Rublev broke Rune and mond Bane scored 22. Ja Morant had 18 points before
clinched victory on his sec- double-faulted to give his held to love with a second- leaving in the fourth quarter with an injured right hand.
ond match point with an opponent the chance to serve ace for 2-0 in the sec- Los Angeles wrested home-court advantage from the
ace, stood still for a mo- serve for victory and Rublev ond set. Grizzlies, who had the NBA’s best home record at 35-6.
ment to check if the ball sealed a 14th career title. Rublev’s aggressive ap- Game 2 is Wednesday at FedExForum.
was in and then lay on his Rublev had lost his two pre- proach troubled Rune, who It was Hachimura from Japan who provided Los Ange-
back for several moments vious Masters finals — at needed to save two break les some breathing room in the third quarter, connect-
to savor the moment. The Monte Carlo and Cincin- points before holding the ing on all four of his 3-point attempts. Hachimura’s only
sixth-seeded Rune climbed nati in 2021 — but stayed third game. previous playoff experience was in 2021 with Washington,
over the net to go over and focused. Rublev stepped it up and which lost a first-round series to Philadelphia. The Lakers
congratulate him. “I remember the previous consecutive breaks of acquired him from the Wizards in a midseason trade.
“I don’t know what to say. finals I was not mentally serve clinched a second The Lakers earned the seventh seed in the West by beat-
Losing 4-1, 0-30, saving ready and, when I was set where Rune made 11 ing Minnesota in the play-in tournament. Los Angeles
break points. Somehow losing, I was thinking no unforced errors. missed the playoffs in 2022 and was eliminated in the first
I did it,” the 25-year-old chance to win anymore, After Rune broke for a round by the Phoenix Suns a year earlier.
Rublev said. “I was deep in- and I was mentally going 2-0 lead in the third set, Memphis finished with 51 wins, its second straight 50-vic-
side hoping (that) at least I completely down,” Rublev Rublev seemed troubled tory season, to earn the No. 2 seed.
would have one chance.” said. “Today I was like ‘OK, by the bounce of the ball The Lakers led by as much as 10 in the first half as Mem-
Rune missed a golden if you lose today at least on court. But Rune saved phis faced some early ballhandling woes. Jarred Vander-
chance to clinch a second please believe until the two break points in a tight bilt’s defense kept Morant out of the paint for a while.
Masters title after beating end.’” fourth game to hold for a But Memphis outscored the Lakers 38-27 in the second
Novak Djokovic with a stun- Rune looked fresh despite 4-1 lead. quarter to carry a 65-59 lead into the break.
ning comeback at the Paris finishing a tense semifinal Rune changed racket at TIP-INS Lakers: This is the first time Los Angeles has faced
Masters last November. against Jannik Sinner at 0-30 down in the seventh Memphis in the postseason. ... Davis left the court late
This time it was the oppo- 9:45 p.m. on Saturday. game but immediately in the second quarter with an injury to his right arm. He
site. He treated the crowd to a served a double-fault and returned to start the second half. ... The first Los Angeles
The 19-year-old Dane let delightful sliced backhand Rublev let out a roar when turnover came with 8:41 left in the second quarter. Its sec-
the match slip and lost his drop shot in the sixth game he broke back to 4-3, as ond came a minute later. ... James passed Robert Horry
nerve in the 11th game of of the first set and broke the match began to turn for 24th on the Los Angeles all-time playoff scoring list in
the decider, hitting two Rublev’s serve with a heavy back in his favor. the second quarter.
balls out of the court in frus- forehand winner for 4-2. Rune said the late finish on Grizzlies: C Steven Adams (right knee PCL sprain) and
tration. Rune saved four break Saturday night may have C/F Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon tear) were out
“I was definitely in control in points in the next game but had an impact. and are expected to miss the playoffs. ... Morant played
the third set ... didn’t man- Rublev took his fifth chance “I didn’t have much time to with his right hand wrapped from what coach Taylor Jen-
age to close it out,” Rune to pull back to 4-3 when recover,” he said. “I gave it kins described as a contusion in his pregame availability.
said. “Just got to see what Rune mis-hit a forehand all. Didn’t have any more in Morant hurt the hand again in the fourth quarter when
I did wrong, what I can do long, and then held for 4-4. me. I did what I could, and he landed awkwardly on the hand, called for a charge
better, and move on, be- Rune clinched the first set I was very close. “q against Davis.q