After losing the first two games of their NBA Summer League stint in Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Lakers looked as if they were going to be heading home early once again. The team suffered a few injuries to key players like Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart leading many to believe the minimum of five games is all they would play at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Fast forward a week later, the Lakers have won five games in a row, and after beatng the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, they’ll be playing in the Summer League championship game on Monday night in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Although the Lakers have entertained their fans on a nightly basis and have lived up to the hype they had coming into Summer League, the team could be without their leader in the championship game on Monday. Ball, who missed the majority of the second half against the Mavs with calf tightness, has an uncertain status for tomorrow’s game against Portland, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Coach Jud says he's not yet sure whether Lonzo will be able to play tomorrow. Medical staff & management will make decision tomorrow.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 17, 2017
Before he suffered the injury that ultimately ended his night on Sunday, Ball had already recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. The former UCLA star was on his game against Dallas shooting 5-for-7 from the floor and getting his teammates involved with every opportunity.
Ball talked about his injury after the game and remains hopeful can play tomorrow against the Blazers, via Winters:
Lonzo Ball said he hopes he can play tomorrow at 7PM, says he'll be working tomorrow with the training staff tomorrow to get ready.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 17, 2017
The championship game against Portland will tip-off tomorrow at 7 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game can be seen live on Spectrum SportsNet.
Once Summer League officially wraps up after tomorrow’s game, the Lakers won’t be back on the floor to face another opponent until the NBA preseason which will get started for Los Angeles on Sept. 30 with the team taking on the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
