{"id":718397,"date":"2026-04-26T07:57:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T07:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/718397\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T07:57:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T07:57:29","slug":"japan-sports-notebook-rui-hachimura-providing-a-spark-for-lakers-in-nba-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/718397\/","title":{"rendered":"JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK | Rui Hachimura Providing a Spark for Lakers in NBA Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rui Hachimura<\/a> had the hot hand for the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter of their NBA<\/a> first-round playoff game against the Houston Rockets on Friday, April 24.<\/p>\n

While playing all 12 minutes of the opening quarter in Houston, Hachimura was 6-for-6 from the floor. He knocked down all three of his 3-point shots in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

Hachimura led all scorers with 16 points in the first quarter, and the Lakers led 39-22 at the end of the quarter. For Hachimura, it was a career-best scoring total for one quarter, in the regular season or the playoffs.<\/p>\n

LA went on to beat Houston 112-108 in overtime to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.<\/p>\n

Hachimura finished with 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting. He grabbed four rebounds and added two assists and a steal in nearly 44 minutes.<\/p>\n

In overtime, Hachimura had a key offensive rebound and seconds later converted a layup to put the Lakers ahead 107-103 with 2:35 remaining.<\/p>\n

LeBron James paced the Lakers with 29 points, including 13 in the second half. Marcus Smart had a stellar all-around game to help lead the Lakers, chipping in with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks.<\/p>\n

Game 4 is on Sunday in Houston.<\/p>\n

\"NBA\"The Lakers’ Rui Hachimura attempts to save a ball during overtime in Game 3 on April 24. (\u00a9Troy Taormina\/IMAGN IMAGES\/via REUTRS)<\/p>\n

Rui Hachimura Comments on Game 3<\/p>\n

The Toyama native noted that the Lakers wanted to capitalize on his matchup with Rockets guard Reed Sheppard. Houston’s Kevin Durant (knee injury) missed the game, giving the 188-cm Sheppard the early defensive assignment against Hachimura.<\/p>\n

“We talked about it in film [sessions] and practice, and that’s what we did exactly,” Hachimura told reporters after the game.<\/p>\n

The Lakers’ mental fortitude was another factor in the win, according to Hachimura.<\/p>\n

“It was the mentality,” he said, citing a key to victory. “We never gave up.”<\/p>\n

Houston, the Western Conference’s No 5 seed, led 75-70 entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

“Especially in the playoffs, we’ve always got to fight through [adversity],” said Hachimura, whose team is the No 4 seed.<\/p>\n

Hachimura said his team is focused on performing well in the most critical moments of playoff games.<\/p>\n

“We’ve been in a lot of close games and we always finish strong,” he said after Game 3.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In Game 1 of the Lakers-Rockets series, Hachimura had 14 points, three steals and two blocks in LA’s 107-98 win. He finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in Game 2, a 101-94 LA victory.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

NBA House Holds Public Viewings, Basketball Contests<\/p>\n

In conjunction with the ongoing NBA playoffs, a variety of fan-friendly activities were scheduled in Tokyo for Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26. Held at City Circuit Tokyo Bay, NBA Japan organized public viewings of Game 3 of the Lakers-Rockets series and Sunday’s Game 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series.<\/p>\n

The weekend activities were promoted as “NBA House Japan<\/a>” as the Odaiba racing circuit was transformed into a centralized hub for basketball-related events.<\/p>\n

Other activities included 3-point shooting contests, 3×3 exhibition tournaments, freestyle basketball performances, slam dunk contests and a basketball talk show with former NBA player Chris Bosh.<\/p>\n

\"\"Nagasaki Velca swingman Yudai Baba runs the offense against the Fighting Eagles Nagoya on April 25 in Nagoya. (\u00a9KYODO)<\/p>\n

Velca Clinch Western Conference Title<\/p>\n

The Nagasaki Velca<\/a>, who have a B.League<\/a>-best 45-12 record, have wrapped up the Western Conference title.<\/p>\n

Nagasaki, which has a 22-7 road record during the 2025-26 season, won its fourth consecutive game on Saturday, April 25, topping the host Fighting Eagles Nagoya 83-73.<\/p>\n

Jarrell Brantley<\/a> led the Velca with 23 points.<\/p>\n

“I think our defense was excellent today,” Nagasaki head coach Mody Maor said during a postgame press conference. “We had a few issues in the first half, but I feel we defended very well in the second half. To be honest, our offense wasn’t that great, but I believe our ability to dominate defensively led to this result.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Nagoya Diamond Dolphins and the SeaHorses Mikawa, who have identical 41-16 records, trail the Velca in the West as the end of the 60-game regular season approaches.<\/p>\n

\"\"FC Machida Zelvia fans root for the team before the start of the Asian Champions League Elite final on April 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (\u00a9Ibraheem Abu Mustafa\/via REUTERS)<\/p>\n

Soccer<\/p>\n

Al Ahli Beat Zelvia in Asian Champions League final<\/p>\n

Al Ahli Saudi FC defeated FC Machida Zelvia<\/a> 1-0 in extra time to capture the Asian Champions League Elite<\/a> title on Saturday night, April 25.<\/p>\n

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, substitute Feras Al Brikan scored the winning goal in the 96th minute for 10-man Al Ahli.<\/p>\n

Al Ahli’s Zakaria Hawsawi was ejected from the final for headbutting Zelvia’s Tete Yengi in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n

Despite playing a man down for a large stretch of the title match, Al Ahli repeated as Asian Champions League champion. In 2025, the Saudi squad defeated Kawasaki Frontale in the final.<\/p>\n

\"\"Zelvia’s Yuta Nakayama (right) in action against Al Ahli in the second half. (\u00a9KYODO)<\/p>\n

Machida’s Kosei Tani<\/a> took home the tourney’s Best Goalkeeper award. He had seven shutouts in 11 matches.<\/p>\n

Zelvia manager Go Kuroda<\/a> said the experience of competing in the Asian Champions League is important for the J.League team’s development.<\/p>\n

“It’s a great achievement that we became finalists,” Kuroda said at a post-match news conference. “Experience is of course important. We gained a lot reaching this stage of the competition, for us staff and the players.”<\/p>\n

Kuroda added, “We will take this and look to step forward with this experience.”<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>
\nRELATED:<\/p>\n

\"\"Hanshin Tigers infielder Teruaki Sato bashes a double in the third inning against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on April 21 at Yokohama Stadium. (\u00a9SANKEI)<\/p>\n

Baseball<\/p>\n

Tigers’ Sato Leads NPB with a .384 Batting Average<\/p>\n

Hanshin Tigers star Teruaki Sato<\/a> has the best batting average (.384) among NPB<\/a> players. Through the completion of play on Saturday, April 25, Sato also had five home runs, 12 doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Sato hit .277 with a career-best 40 homers and 102 RBIs, another career-high total.<\/p>\n

Now in his sixth season as a pro baseball player, Sato has a .267 career batting average in 683 games.<\/p>\n

\"\"Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami hits a seventh-inning homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 22 in Phoenix. (\u00a9KYODO)<\/p>\n

Murakami Matches MLB Rookie Homer Record\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami<\/a> homered in his fifth consecutive game on Wednesday, April 22, becoming the 13th MLB<\/a> rookie to do so.<\/p>\n

Murakami, who previously starred for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, extended his streak with a two-run round-tripper in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

The streak ended on Thursday, when Murakami went 1-for-5, hitting a single in a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Murakami belted his 11th homer of the 2026 season, a solo blast to center in the fourth off Washington Nationals reliever Miles Mickolas<\/a>, a former Yomiuri Giants player.<\/p>\n

The White Sox earned a 5-4 triumph over the visitors.<\/p>\n

Murakami hopes to remain a productive power hitter for the entire season.<\/p>\n

“It’s still early in the season, so I just hope I can finish with good numbers,” Murakami said, according to Kyodo News.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of April 25, Murakami and Yordan Alvarez<\/a> of the Houston Astros are tied for the MLB lead in homers.<\/p>\n

\"\"Akie Iwai tees off in the third round of The Chevron Championship at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas, on April 25. (\u00a9KYODO)<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>
\nGolf <\/p>\n

Competing at The Chevron Championship<\/p>\n

Heading into the final round of The Chevron Championship<\/a>, the LPGA Tour’s first major of 2026, American Nelly Korda held a five-stroke lead over Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit at 16-under 200.<\/p>\n

Korda, who won this event in 2024, opened the tourney with back-to-back 65s, then shot a 70 in the third round on Saturday, April 25 in Houston, Texas. <\/p>\n

Japan’s Akie Iwai<\/a> and Miyuu Yamashita<\/a> were among four golfers tied for 12th after the next-to-last round at 5-under 211.<\/p>\n

Iwai carded a 6-under 66 on Saturday in a round highlighted by her seven birdies. Yamashita had a 67.<\/p>\n

“So today I felt everything [was] good, especially my swing tempo,” Iwai told reporters, adding, “that’s why I got many birdies.”<\/p>\n

Iwai finished with a 72 in the second round. She said her mental approach helped her improve her score by six strokes the next day. In round two, Iwai said she was “overthinking,” but a day later “no overthinking.”<\/p>\n

Yuka Saso<\/a> and Rio Takeda<\/a> were tied for 20th at 3-under 213.<\/p>\n

Mao Saigo<\/a>, winner of The Chevron Championship in 2025, has had a frustrating tournament with a 1-over 73, followed by a 71 and a 74. That put her at 2-over 218 and in 61st place.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>
\nQuotes of the Week<\/p>\n

“I’ve run out of things to say. Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches. He’s making great swing decisions, making a ton of contact and when he hits it, he hits it really hard.”<\/p>\n

\u2015White Sox manager Will Venable<\/a> on MLB rookie Munetaka Murakami’s strong start this season on offense, according to The Associated Press.<\/p>\n

“I’m looking forward to working with all the players and support staff, and being heavily involved in one of the most exciting projects in world rugby at the moment. [The] Newcastle Red Bulls are a club intent on success, and the possibilities for the club are huge. But nothing happens in sport without hard work and quality processes being put in place.”<\/p>\n

\u2015Dan McFarland, on his upcoming departure<\/a> as forwards coach for Japan Rugby League One club Kobelco Kobe Steelers to take over as the head coach of English Premiership Rugby squad Newcastle Red Bulls.<\/p>\n

Author: Ed Odeven<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook]<\/a> on Sundays, [Odds and Evens]<\/a> during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) \uff20ed_odeven<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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