The Los Angeles Lakers stood firm and comprehensively beat the Rockets in Game 4. With this victory, the purple and gold take a massive lead in the series. Moreover, their bench players did a tremendous job of putting on a solid performance. 19-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker, too, got a few minutes and dazzled in his limited time on the court! 

The 6’4” rookie has had no breakthrough moments in the season, but he surely showcased his talent in Game 4. Coach Vogel put him on the floor for very short minutes, and Horton-Tucker proved his talent on the big stage. 

The Iowa State alum came on in the second quarter and immediately stood out with his talent. The shooting guard made use of the free hooks that he got and converted them into buckets. His flashy performance drew the Lakers bench to stand on their feet and applaud him. 

Besides, Talen Horton-Tucker, Alex Caruso proved to be a beast on the night. He recorded a tremendous game and impressed everyone with his defensive strength. AC had 16.0 points in the game and also scored the three-point dagger, which sealed the game for the Lakers. 

LeBron James and Anthony Davis cheer on the young guns after Lakers post massive victory

We’ve seen LeBron and AD carry the Lakers a lot in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. But tonight, Alex Caruso was outstanding on the court, proving just why he deserves to be here on the biggest stage. Following the victory, LeBron lauded the contributions of Caruso and Horton-Tucker, who rose to the occasion. 

“This was AC’s ninth playoff game, and he’s grown and grown from that first one to today… I thought Rook (Talen Horton-Tucker) was huge tonight,” LeBron said. His partner in crime, Anthony Davis too, gave a shout out to 19-year-old Horton-Tucker for his standout performance. 

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When asked about Horton-Tucker in his immediate post-game reaction, “He likes to work, he likes to play,” Davis said. “He’s a fast learner, and he comes in and gives us everything.” Davis then mentioned his two-way ability and simply said, “He’s always ready.” 

Anthony Davis also revealed that J. R. Smith is guiding Horton-Tucker and helping him fit himself into the league. “His vet on this team is everybody, but his main vet is J.R. And J.R is always in his ear about what he should do,” the 27-year-old mentioned. 

The Lakers have a deep roster and a talented one that can overcome the challenge of any team. With a series win against the Rockets imminent, can the purple and gold dig deep and find glory this season? The Laker faithful have been dreaming of a championship for many years, and they have never been any closer to winning it in about a decade.