The Los Angeles Lakers lost for the second time in the preseason, dropping an overtime game to the Utah Jazz 117-114. Kobe Bryant, for now, isn’t trying to steal the show, although he might soon do it as D’Angelo Russell picked up his first injury, while Roy Hibbert got himself into a little bit of a fight, that got Trevor Booker ejected.
Bryant scored 13 points on 5-of-9 from the field but didn’t get a lot of minutes next to D’Angelo Russell, who left the game after four with a bruised glute muscle. Jordan Clarkson looked good in his 28 minutes with 12 points, while Julius Randle and Roy Hibbert each added 16 points. The Lakers might not be a very good team, but if Hibbert stays focused and regains some of what he lost over the last 18 months at Indiana, the frontcourt should be a bother for a lot of teams around the league.
The Lakers also have some nice scoring off the bench in Lou Williams, adding 20 points. Nick Young, for now, isn’t pissing off Byron Scott, which meant 23 minutes for him and 13 points while Brandon Bass, another new addition, finished with 12 points. Again, this Lakers team isn’t going to make the playoffs, but it might do better than last season, unless the tanking starts early once more.
Booker was thrown out of the game for hitting Roy Hibbert with an open handed strike, as the two got in each other’s face following a foul call on Randle in the third quarter. Hibbert was called for a technical foul, Booker was handed two.
It didn’t stop the Jazz, playing without Derrick Favors, winning the game, as Alec Burks had a strong overtime, finishing with 27 points to lead his team. Rodney Hood added 21 from the bench while Trey Burke added 15 points, knowing a lot is riding on him this season, with Dante Exum injured for a very long time.