The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their 49th loss of the season on Tuesday night at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. Steve Nash and Nick Young kept the team in contention for the win throughout most of the game, but the Lakers came up short down the stretch at the Staples Center.
Although Nash’s double-double, 10 points and 10 assists, was impressive, it was Young that stole the show with a season-high 40 points.
Young spoke to the media after the game saying the following about his solid performance against the Blazers via TWC SportsNet:
“I just felt good, got in the rhythm… I just got in the zone” – Nick Young after his 40 point performance (via @TWCSportsNet)
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 2, 2014
Young was on fire right out of the gate against the Blazers hitting his first eight shots. The sixth man always seems to play better with Nash on the floor and that showed on Tuesday night. Young went 15-of-26 from the floor and hit six shots from beyond the arc.
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With Young likely opting out his deal with the Lakers in the off-season, the veteran guard/forward will continue to try increase his value in the final eight games. Although Young hasn’t ruled out a return to the Lakers next season, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that he’ll opt-out in an effort to secure a more lucrative long-term deal either with the Lakers or elsewhere.
As of right now, Young is set to make $1.2 million with the Lakers next season if he exercises his player option. Young wants to return, but it remains uncertain if a new deal can get done.
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