Los Angeles Lakers scoring phenom Luka Doncic missed the first game of the young season with a back injury, leaving a huge hole in the offense with the NBA’s leading scorer (36 points per game) sitting.
Lakers defensive star Ziaire Williams also missed his first game with left foot soreness, leaving them even more depleted with two starters unable to play.
Advertisement
The Eagles added a lot of depth over the summer due to injuries and will now be tested against the Clippers in the Intuit Dome.
Collin Sexton was one of the players the Jets were looking for on Wednesday, and he delivered in a big way, coming off the bench to provide energy and help in the Jets’ 103-87 victory over the Clippers.
Sexton was at his best in the third quarter, scoring 11 of 21 points, flexing his chest and grinding after the game. His play helped the Jets open a 22-point lead they never lost.
Read more: The high scoring team needs to play defense for the ball
Advertisement
Four in the third for five from the field, six for the game 11. Two-for-three from three-point range, four-for-seven in the game. He also had four rebounds and two assists.
Quentin Grimes (23 points), Matisse Thybulle (15) and Austin Reaves (16 points) helped their teams to score 4-1.
Doncic and Williams played against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but were unable to go on a back-to-back game.
“Both guys woke up today with some soreness and soreness — soreness for Luka, soreness for Ziaire,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We have tough games ahead. Not much time between” [games so] he’s just being too careful. “
Advertisement
The Warriors next play at the Golden State Warriors on Friday, in the fourth game of six days.
Redick was asked if Doncic and Williams would be available for that game.
Read more: Ugly Cashier: Why Collin Sexton’s ‘Crazy’ Works
‘This is it,’ he said.
Redick turned to Jarred Vanderbilt, who did not play in the first four games, and Jaden Hardy, who played in the first game of the season, for short-term Lakers help during the regular season. Vanderbilt played 21 minutes and had seven rebounds. Hardy played nine minutes and had two points.
“Yeah, I’m going back to something I’ve said a couple of times now that every guy’s going to have an opportunity all season long,” Redick said. “… Guys, we didn’t play to create opportunities tonight.”
Advertisement
But the shearers take care of their injuries.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (left quad-soreness) played his first game of the season, joining Bradley Beal (right knee injury management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff hand), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear) on the injury report.
The Bruins signed center Lawson Love to a two-way contract Wednesday and released AK Okereke two ways.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.