Kyusung Gong/Associated Press
The Los Angeles Lakers earned their 2d victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in three nights, a success 131-106 on Sunday night at Staples Middle in Los Angeles.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard played 28 combined minutes Friday night as head coach Tyronn Lue emptied out the bench and got 18 diversified gamers on the bottom. Neither George nor Leonard shouldered a heavy workload in the rematch with the Lakers as they logged 18 minutes apiece.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were out altogether when the Lakers and Clippers met two nights ago. They restful haven’t made their preseason debut as head coach Frank Vogel once again played it quite gain with his more skilled stars.
Important Performers
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG, Lakers: 33 aspects (11-17 FG; 4-5 3PT), 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals
Kyle Kuzma, PF, Lakers: 25 aspects (8-14 FG; 4-7 3PT), six rebounds, four assists, one block
Montrezl Harrell, PF, Lakers: 19 aspects (8-19 FG; 1-1 3PT), 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks
Kawhi Leonard, SF, Clippers: 11 aspects (4-7 FG; 1-2 3PT), two assists, one rebound, one hold
Paul George, SG, Clippers: 9 aspects (3-6 FG; 2-3 3PT), four assists, one rebound, one hold
Horton-Tucker Playing His Capability into Rotation
The Lakers became over the roster reasonably a chunk for a reigning champion, so building continuity on the court docket is serious. The preseason and early phases of the frequent season are furthermore a likelihood for Vogel to experiment and gape if any unexpected gamers rise to the fore.
Talen Horton-Tucker is a high candidate in that regard.
The 20-year-former drew praise from James after a 19-level time out on Friday. He turn into even better in Sunday’s 2d lunge-round:
This would possibly maybe occasionally furthermore most efficient be the preseason, but Horton-Tucker clearly had a show ticket against the Clippers. On the least, he’s giving Vogel a compelling cause to observe how fundamental of this translates when the precise games originate up.
Let the hype practice originate up. Horton-Tucker is on his diagram to changing into the 2d-finest Lakers player ever with a hyphenated surname.
Clippers Shift Priorities in 2nd Half
At halftime, the Lakers led by seven aspects in what had been a attend-and-forth game. Once the third quarter wrapped up, their lead had swelled to 17 aspects in smooth piece because Lue started waving the white flag.
The Clippers’ starters equipped some highlights in the fundamental half of when they played:
Taking a more serious stare, one would possibly maybe perhaps contend that it be no longer utterly encouraging to observe the Lakers—sans Davis, James, Dennis Schroder, Wesley Matthews and Alex Caruso—shedding in 70 aspects in the fundamental half of on the Clippers.
Lue’s squad did no longer pronounce its evident talent advantage to burn the Lakers on the offensive pause, either.
No person will be panicking after the 2d preseason game. On the opposite hand, final season confirmed chemistry factors and a lack of fluidity can’t merely be swept below the rug when the playoffs design. After the style 2019-20 ended, a slack originate up to the frequent season would possibly maybe perhaps be the last merchandise the Clippers need.
Sunday’s game wasn’t a bother, yet it yielded few positives for Lue in the identical diagram Horton-Tucker’s efficiency gave Vogel cause for excitement.
What’s Subsequent?
The Lakers absorb a pair of road games against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday and Friday. The Clippers will bring their preseason to a cessation Thursday at home to the Utah Jazz.
