Los Angeles Lakers introduce 2017 first round draft pick Lonzo Ball of UCLA during press conference at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo Friday June 23, 2017. Lonzo Ball answers question. Photo By Robert Casillas, Daily Breeze/ SCNG
The Lakers decided not to shut at least some of their key players for the remainder of Vegas Summer League. Both Lakers rookie guard Lonzo Ball and rookie forward Kyle Kuzma will be available for when the Lakers (1-2) play the Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) on Wednesday at 7:30 pm PT at the Thomas & Mack Center. Lakers rookie guard Josh Hart (sprained right ankle) and rookie guard PJ Dozier (sprained left ankle) will sit out.
After Ball’s absence on Monday eliminated a marquee matchup against Kings guard and No. 5 pick De’Aaron Fox, Ball will return against a Sixers team that sidelined No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz after spraining his left ankle last weekend.
After nursing various ailments that kept them out of Monday’s game against Sacramento, Ball (right groin) and Kuzma (cramps) completed the team’s voluntary workout on Tuesday. Hart has missed the past two games, while Dozier suffered his injury during Monday’s game against the Kings.
The Lakers will field a new lineup when accounting for shutting down second-year forward Brandon Ingram (cramps) and waiving second-year guard David Nwaba. Among the standouts in Monday’s win over Sacramento included guard Vander Blue (21 points, six rebounds, two assists in 29 minutes off the bench) and guard Alex Caruso (18 points, nine assists, four steals in 30 minutes as a starter).
If the Lakers beat the Sixers on Wednesday, they will play next on Thursday at 7:30 pm. If the Lakers lose on Wednesday, they would play their final game in the consolation bracket on Friday at 5:30 pm PT.
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