Basketball: Rui Hachimura ties season-best 23 points as Lakers end ...

Rui Hachimura tied his NBA season high with 23 points Wednesday, helping the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Miami Heat 117-108 and snap a three-game skid.

The Japan national basketball team forward went 9-from-15 from the field, including 2-from-5 from three-point range, in a team-high scoring outburst for the Lakers, who also got 22 points apiece from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Hachimura also grabbed eight rebounds during his 33 minutes on the court at Crypto.com Arena.

Rui Hachimura (28) of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound during a game against the Miami Heat on Jan. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty/Kyodo)

The Heat led at the end of the first three quarters, aided by a game-high 34 points from guard Tyler Herro, but the Lakers took the lead for good at 97-94 on a Max Christie three-pointer with 7:55 left in the final period.

Hachimura extended the lead to 106-101 with his last basket, a step-back three-pointer, with 4:53 remaining.

The Lakers occupy the last automatic playoff spot at sixth in the Western Conference with a 21-17 record.

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