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LOS ANGELES — The young, injured Lakers still come into Monday’s matchup armed with hope against the red-hot Warriors. Is that optimism well founded?
Read all about the matchup below.
When/Where: Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSBA)
Lakers projected starting lineup: Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Tyson Chandler, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso
Lakers Stock Report: Since the last matchup between these two teams, the Lakers have struggled in the last month — in large part because of the absences of LeBron James and Rajon Rondo.
Without Rondo and James, who were both injured last month against the Warriors, the Lakers have posted a 5-8 record.
Over the stretch, the Lakers have produced one of the worst offenses in the league, posting a putrid 104.0 offensive rating.
However, the Lakers have shown some positive signs, recently beating the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.
With the champs coming to town, the bewildered Lakers hope they can provide enough magic to pull off a major upset.
Last matchup (Dec. 25, 2018): Warriors 107, Lakers 127
Despite LeBron James straining his right groin, Los Angeles outscored the Warriors 36-19 in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant had 21 points on 5-of-13 from the field. Stephen Curry added 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting. James finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Lakers storylines:
Lonzo Ball on the shelf for a few weeks.
On Sunday, the Lakers announced Ball will be out 4-to-6 weeks with a grade-3 ankle sprain.
Ball sprained his ankle in the third quarter of Saturday’s 138-134 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets after colliding with James Ennis, Jr.
The grade-3 sprain means Ball has a tear in his ankle. However, his injury will not require surgery. According to the timeline, Ball will also miss the Feb. 2 matchup against the Warriors at Oracle Arena.
Rondo and LeBron could be back soon.
While Ball’s injury will sideline him for the foreseeable future, James and Rondo are back practicing with the team.
Rondo sprained his right ring finger during the Dec. 25 matchup against the Warriors — the same night James injured his groin.
The Lakers have struggled during the veterans’ absence, going 5-8 over a 12 the game stretch.
Kuzma is coming alive.
In the absence of James and Rondo, the second-year forward has shined, averaging 23 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his last 12 games — even upping his value in a potential trade, according to Bleacher Report.
“Kuzma’s efforts have helped the Lakers (25-22) stay in the playoff hunt. Meanwhile, James has been cleared to return to practice and could be back by Thursday (along with Rajon Rondo) against the Minnesota Timberwolves, B/R reporter Eric Pincus writes. “With Lonzo Ball spraining his ankle Saturday, the Lakers need their veteran stars back in the worst way.
In the meantime, Kuzma has shown he can help carry a team offensively.
“He’s a legitimate scorer that fits the modern NBA perfectly,” a former general manager told Bleacher Report. “Kuzma has the highest value of the [Lakers’ young prospects]. He’s the most proven.”
With the Lakers battling a myriad of injuries, Kuzma could be the lone threat against the Warriors.
Injury report: Lonzo Ball, (ankle), out, Rajon Rondo, (hand), out, LeBron James (groin), out.