Rui Hachimura scored 17 points but his Los Angeles Lakers could not overcome the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA's Western Conference finals on Tuesday.
Playing more than 28 minutes off the bench, the Japanese power forward made eight of his 11 field goal attempts to help the Lakers cut a 21-point deficit to three with just over a minute to go. The Nuggets eventually prevailed 132-126 at the Ball Arena in Denver.
Star center Nikola Jokic put together a spectacular 34-point, 21-rebound, 14-assist triple-double, shooting 70.6 percent from the field, to lead the top-seeded Nuggets to within three wins of their first NBA finals appearance.
Hachimura was called on to defend Jokic at times and had some success in slowing the two-time league MVP.
Asked about it in his post-game press availability, Hachimura said Denver's size across the roster gives him a chance to play a bigger role than in the previous series against the Golden State Warriors, a matchup he called "not a great opportunity for me."
On his number being called against Jokic, the 25-year-old said, "It was a part of our game plan, we talked about it before the game and the coaches told me I was going to guard Jokic, too."
"I think it was a good plan, and I think in the second half we did a pretty good job on him."
"I was ready for this moment...I have been watching film of them and I think it is going to be big for me."
Denver's Jamal Murray contributed 31 points to put the Lakers, who were led by 40 points from Anthony Davis and 28 from LeBron James, in a one-game hole ahead of Thursday's Game 2, also to be played in Denver.
Hachimura's 28 minutes are the most he has played for the Lakers in the playoffs since he had 32 minutes of court time in the second game of the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies. It is his fifth game of double-figure scoring in this postseason.
