Darvin Ham explains why Westbrook remained on bench in fourth quarter / News - Basketnews.com

Darvin Ham says Russell Westbrook remained on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Pistons because other players were in a good rhythm.

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

The Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham decided to keep Russell Westbrook on the bench through the fourth quarter in a 124-117 win against the Detroit Pistons.

Player of the Game EFF 47 Anthony Davis Points 34 Accuracy 12-18 Rebounds 15 Assists 7

Ham trusted an unusual rotation down the stretch, playing LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Dennis Schroder for the entire fourth quarter, combined with Lonnie Walker IV and Anthony Davis taking the lion's share of the remaining minutes.

Westbrookdid not play at all in the fourth. He finished the game with 11 points (5/8 2PT, 0/1 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.

"Guys get in a rhythm together, and you can't really just always look at stats," Ham explained the decision to keep Westbrook on the bench. "You got to look at the rhythm of the five guys that are playing on the court. And I felt like we had a group out there that was in a really good rhythm.

Reaves made a clutch 3-pointer which secured the Lakers win.

"Twenty years down the road, I'll probably think back to times like this and be like, 'Damn, like it was arguably one of the greatest players ever having trust in me,'" Reaves said about his play. "Which is special."

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