Lakers victorious for the first time in the Summer League
By Tadi Abedje
The Los Angeles won their first Summer League by defeating their division rival Sacramento Kings, 95 to 92. LA had a 28 point lead and the Kings cut it down to as many as five but couldn’t complete the comeback. They held Sacramento to 42.1 percent shooting from the field and forced them to commit 12 turnovers. The young sensation, Lonzo Ball did not play because of a groin injury. Also, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma watched the game from the sidelines.
Alex Caruso, who started in place of Ball, had an excellent game by scoring 18 points on seven of nine shots from the field including four for five from three point land, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals. He found out that he was going to start for Ball shortly before the game started and he took advantage of his opportunity.
“Anybody who’s been familiar with me and watched me play knows that I play hard. I play to win. I play for my teammates and I’m glad that I got to show that and everybody got to see that today.”
Caruso went undrafted during the 2016 NBA draft out of Texas A&M and played with the Oklahoma City Blue in the Development League. He could get a training camp invite and a possible roster spot if he has a couple of good performances during the summer.
David Nwaba was put in the starting lineup and scored 13 points on five of nine from the floor, nine rebounds and four assists. He said that the team chemistry was because of Lonzo Ball and he set the foundation.
Vander Blue, who is playing for his sixth Summer League team, had 21 points on six of 15 shooting and shot three for six from three point land off the bench. He made six of his seven free throws and grabbed six rebounds. The 2013 undrafted rookie free agent out of Marquette is hoping to get another chance to play for an NBA team after playing 2 seasons with the Boston Celtics and the Lakers.
Thomas Bryant had an efficient game by scoring 10 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
For Sacramento, second year player Buddy Hield had 22 points on six of nine from three point land. He was part of the five player trade between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Kings that sent him to the capital city of California for the talented big man DeMarcus Cousins.
The team’s first pick, De’Aaron Fox had 12 points in 20 minutes. He missed an opportunity to go up against Lonzo Ball as he did in last year’s NCAA tournament and scored 39 points as he led his Kentucky team past Ball’s UCLA in the Sweet 16.
Another rookie, Justin Jackson had 16 points on seven of 16 shooting. He won the National Championship as a member of the University of North Carolina last season. Former Naismith College Player of the Year award winner, Frank Mason III scored 24 points and dished out 6 assists in 24 minutes off the bench.