Lakers lean on Russell, he rises in reply
ANAHEIM » The Lakers have yet to play a true “home” game during the preseason, but you wouldn't have been able to tell based on Wednesday's preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Even with the Lakers sitting three-fifths of their starting lineup, purple and gold paraphernalia was spread out throughout the Honda Center — a little more than 30 miles southeast of the team's Crypto.com Arena.
Everything the Lakers did well received a strong ovation from the crowd in attendance. Including when Anthony Davis walked onto the floor for his pregame routine. Or when he and LeBron James, both in street clothes, joined the team on the bench and showed on the Jumbotron.
But once the game started, D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' lone starter who played, gave the crowd plenty for which to cheer in a 109-101 victory.
Russell led the Lakers with 21 points (8-of-12 shooting, 2-of-5 on 3-pointers), 8 assists, 3 rebounds, a steal and a block in 21 minutes.
Russell's minutes were ramped up Wednesday, helping give the Lakers a boost when they needed it. This after he played 16 minutes apiece and having his playing time limited to the first half in the first two preseason games,
He scored or assisted on 13 points consecutive points midway through the third quarter, including knocking down back-to-back pullup 3s as part of a 13-3 run to give the Lakers a 70-62 lead before he was subbed out for the duration.
Russell averaged 14.5 points on 61% shooting (75% on 3s) in the first two preseason games.
“D-Lo has been phenomenal,” Ham said pregame. “Just really the communication
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between he and his teammates, he and myself, making sure we get exactly what we want out of the offense and the beginning stages, laying the foundation. He's been awesome.
“We understand there is a lot more cohesiveness as opposed to last year at this time, and D-Lo is right at the forefront of that. He's commanding the ball, making good reads, shooting the ball well, competing defensively. So, everything is in a good space.”
James, Davis and Austin Reaves sat for rest. Cam Reddish (right ankle soreness) and Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel soreness) also didn't play and remain day to day.
Davis played 27 combined minutes — all in the first halves — in the first two preseason games. James and Reaves made their preseason debuts in Monday's win over the Brooklyn Nets in Las Vegas.
James previously said he plans to play in half of the team's six preseason games, and Ham confirmed that remains the plan.
The Lakers will play the Golden State Warriors on Friday at Crypto.com Arena and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday in Los Angeles before closing out their exhibitions against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 19 in Palm Springs.
“The approach right now is just to maximize each and every day,” Ham responded when asked what the rampup period will look like for James in the regular season. “Whether it's an off day for him — he's just not playing in the game but he's still active in terms of working on his body, getting on the court getting reps in.
“It's easy with him navigating these so-called challenges of the unknown because he takes such good care of himself and constantly preparing himself.”