Salt Lake City, Utah —
Rui Hachimura scored a career-high 36 points, and Anthony Davis added 37, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 138-122 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
With superstar LeBron James resting an ailing ankle, Hachimura and Davis crushed an undersized Utah frontline, helping the Lakers go 6-1 in their last seven games before the NBA All-Star break.
Hachimura handled the offensive load expected of him when he plays for the Japanese national team, shooting 13-of-19 from the field, including a personal-best six three-pointers, while also using his physical strength to get to the basket at will.
The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to create a consistent rhythm throughout the season. They have yet to have a win run longer than four, and they have only won three games in a row five times. While there are obviously on-court reasons for this inconsistency, the roster has suffered numerous injuries, including Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and others.
Hachimura has been one of the most affected by the Lakers’ struggle to develop a stable rotation this season. In 50 games, he has 21 starts, but 13 of them have been for less than 20 minutes. In addition, he has missed 14 games. Given all of this, it’s no surprise that Hachimura admitted that the team’s rotation has been disrupted by injuries and player returns, making it difficult for everyone. “It’s hard, it’s for sure hard, and like you said that part, but also, Vando is gonna come back soon. Gabe [Vincent] is gonna come back soon. Christian Wood is gonna come back soon. It’s gonna be tough rotation-wise, even me, you know?”
