The Los Angeles Lakers seemed to be in trouble after both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were ruled out for the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Those worries didn't last long, though, as the Lakers shocked many, defending their home floor against the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the series.

Former Duke Blue Devil Luke Kennard was the star of the show, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. He also added four rebounds and three assists.

Following the game, Kennard received a lofty endorsement from his current teammate, Deandre Ayton.

"He is the number one shooter in the NBA, so, you know, there's not much to say, but, you know, he's doing it in the playoffs where it really counts. My word is speechless to be honest," said Ayton.

Although Kennard didn't lead the league in made threes, he did lead the NBA in three-point percentage, sitting at 47.8% on the season.

Looking ahead to Game 2, Kennard and the shorthanded Lakers will hope to defend home court again and take an early 2-0 series advantage.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Luke Kennard receives special endorsement after Lakers huge Game 1 win