The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off their first win in the NBA Summer League during their 2017 campaign. The team lost the first two matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics, but even though Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart sat out with injuries, the Lakers were able to prevail against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Ahead of Monday’s game against the Kings, Ball and Kuzma were ruled out unexpectedly with injury issues. Lonzo was dealing with a groin issue, and Kuzma was dealing with cramps.
Fortunately, both rookies were back to work on Tuesday participating in a team workout, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News:
Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma participated in team workout/walk through today while Josh Hart & PJ Dozier received treatment.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 11, 2017
The Lakers will have a minimum of two more games during this year’s NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The next game for Los Angeles will likely be on Wednesday with the status of Ball and Kuzma still uncertain at this point for that matchup and the rest of Summer League for that matter.
It seems as though the Lakers brass are taking an extremely cautious approach with their players in Summer League. Once Ingram went down with a leg cramp in the first game against the Clippers, the team ruled him out for the rest of the team’s games in Las Vegas. The same could happen for Ball, Kuzma, and Hart if their injuries linger.
In the first two games, Ball and Kuzma played well together. Kuzma averaged 20 points per contest while Ball recorded a triple-double against the Celtics and showed his ability to change the game with his court vision.