The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a solid start against the undefeated Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night in the semifinals of the NBA Summer League playoffs. Lonzo Ball and company scored 62 points in the first half and kept Dennis Smith Jr’s Mavs struggling to keep up.
Unfortunately, in the second half of Sunday’s game in Las Vegas, Ball began to deal with tightness in his right calf muscle. The calf issue appears to have sidelined the rookie for the rest of the game despite being available to return, according to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell:
Lonzo has calf tightness. He’s technically available to return. Don’t be surprised if LAL play it safe and keep him out. 78-61, 2:42 in 3rd.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 17, 2017
Before heading to the bench, Ball had recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. Ball definitely left his mark on this game before potentially being out for the rest of the contest on Sunday.
Along with Ball, rookie Kyle Kuzma, Vander Blue and Matt Thomas all contributed offensively. Kuzma and Thomas both had 17 points heading into the fourth quarter with Blue pitching in with 13.
If the Lakers go on to win this game against the Mavs, Ball and this talented young squad will head to the championship game on Monday to face the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center.