The LA Lakers took a tough loss in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets, falling 99-93 on Wednesday. One of the biggest factors in the defeat was Luke Kennard’s rough night.
Kennard logged 31 minutes but could not find his rhythm at all. He didn’t make a single field goal and ended with just one point, along with three rebounds and two assists.
His frustrating display led to livid fans berating him on social media.
“Welcome back D lo,” @YUBlKO said.
“31 mins is crazy… Bronny would’ve been better,” @Chubbbs_504 wrote.
“LuKannard honeymoon’s over 😂,” @Aj41525171 said.
“Luke Kennard regression is going to send me to the hospital,” @piratejetbeach said.
“What happened to Luke Kennards magnet ball man 💔 s**t used to be cash every time,” @LeBron__legacy said.
What made the performance stand out even more was how well Kennard had been playing before this game. He was averaging 17.8 points across the first four games of the series. Dropping more than 16 points below that average in such a close matchup hurt the Lakers, who ended up losing by six.
Luke Kennard doesn’t regret receiving a $25,000 fine for confronting officials
Tensions were high after the Lakers’ Game 4 loss, with a scuffle breaking out on the court once the final buzzer sounded. Luke Kennard was in the middle of it all, though he never actually engaged with any of the Houston players. Instead, his frustration was aimed at the officials.
At one point, Kennard directed his anger toward referee James Williams, saying, “You f**king suck.”
The league didn’t take long to respond. Kennard was hit with a $25,000 fine for “directing inappropriate language toward game officials.”
When asked about it later, he didn’t walk anything back. Kennard stood firm, making it clear he felt justified in the moment.
“I’ll always have my teammates’ backs,” Kennard said.
Marcus Smart accompanied Kennard in getting fined, too. He was hit with a $35,000 penalty after calling the officiating “some BS.” Fortunately for the Purple & Gold, neither player faced suspension.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
