[ad_1]
NEW YORK (AP) — Dennis Schroder helped ship a Lakers staff lacking LeBron James and Anthony Davis off to a scorching begin.
And after Schroder was thrown out together with Kyrie Irving within the third quarter, the defending champions actually turned it on.
Andre Drummond had 20 factors and 11 rebounds, Schroder scored 19 factors earlier than he and Irving had been ejected and the Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 126-101 on Saturday night time.
“As we speak we had been out right here competing, making photographs and, yeah, that’s the most effective win of the 12 months I might say,” Schroder stated.
A nationally televised matchup already lacking loads of star energy misplaced much more when Irving began jawing with Schroder and neither participant stopped rapidly sufficient for the officers.
The Lakers had led a lot of the means and had been forward 66-62 when Irving fouled Schroder with 9:41 left within the third. Los Angeles blew it open quickly after the ejections with a 15-2 burst to open an 88-71 lead.
A possible NBA Finals preview had a preseason really feel with so many prime names unavailable. James (proper ankle sprain) and Davis (proper calf pressure) stay out for the Lakers, whereas James Harden is sidelined with a strained proper hamstring for the Nets.
The Lakers dealt with being short-handed a lot better, placing eight gamers in double figures. Ben McLemore, in his second recreation with Los Angeles, scored 17.
“I realized lots from at the moment’s recreation, that now we have quite a lot of guys on this locker room which can be very robust,” Drummond stated. “Regardless of who’s on the opposite facet of the courtroom, they’re going to come back out and play.”
Kevin Durant scored 22 factors in his second recreation again following a 23-game absence along with his personal hamstring damage. Irving added 18, however the Nets had their nine-game dwelling successful streak snapped.
Moreover James and Davis, who had been sitting on the bench, the Lakers had been additionally with out Kyle Kuzma (left calf pressure), Marc Gasol (left hamstring tightness) and Wesley Matthews (proper Achilles tendon tightness).
“I believed they had been the aggressor, they had been extra bodily, they hit first and we didn’t match their physicality and aggressive fireplace, and that’s what you get,” Nets coach Steve Nash stated. “A staff lacking a bunch of fellows and guys get a possibility and their eyes mild up and so they come out and play tougher than us, play extra bodily than us.
“And it’s an excellent lesson for us.”
The Lakers have fallen to fifth within the Western Convention throughout James’ 11-game absence, whereas the Nets entered play main the East. Each groups have upgraded from the buyout market in hopes of deep playoff runs, with the Lakers including Drummond and Brooklyn signing LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin.
The defending champions’ protection positive regarded playoff prepared, holding the NBA’s highest-scoring staff 18 factors beneath its season common. And so they confirmed off some postseason physicality, with Markieff Morris getting a flagrant foul within the first half for elbowing Irving.
The Lakers additionally had their offense rolling early, beginning 7 for 8 to construct an 18-7 lead. Schroder made his first six photographs for 16 factors.
“They hit us within the mouth early after which we had been combating uphill all recreation,” Durant stated.
The Nets bounced again by capturing 63% within the second quarter, reducing it to 61-58 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Coach Frank Vogel stated the Lakers had been hoping Kuzma would return for the sport, however the medical staff needed to carry him out one other recreation. The hope is he’ll play Monday at New York. … Davis shot round earlier than the sport.
Nets: Nash stated the plan was for G Spencer Dinwiddie, away from the Nets rehabbing a torn ACL, to rejoin his teammates when he was additional together with the method, although he didn’t know if that might be earlier than the playoffs. … The Nets final gained 10 in a row at dwelling as a part of franchise-record streak of 15 straight from Feb. 3 to April 4, 2014.
Here is extra on the Lakers
Watch Kyrie Irving, Dennis Schroder get ejected for jawing at one another Report: LeBron return from ankle sprain one other three weeks away LeBron hints at his, Davis’ return quickly, says count on ‘thunderstorm’
Shorthanded Lakers draw back after ejections, upset Nets 126-101 initially appeared on NBCSports.com
[ad_2]
supply
