The Los Angeles Lakers Summer League championship hopes came to a brutal end on Thursday night and it wasn’t because of their 88-80 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite leading by as many as 19 points. Forward Larry Nance, Jr. suffered a probable fracture to his right hand, after crashing hard to the ground on a dunk attempt with just 37 seconds left in the contest.
The mood was somber after the game, as rookie Ivica Zubac relayed the message that Nance Jr. thought his hand was broken. Summer league head coach Jesse Mermuys said whatever the diagnosis, he expects Nance to beat the timetable for return. The Lakers say Nance, Jr. will be reevaluated in Los Angeles by a hand specialist on Friday, at which point another update will be given.
Second-year D’Angelo Russell‘s assessment of summer league was that some players improved, while others went backward, and others stayed the same, but as a team they took a step forward. Mermuys also gives his thoughts. Watch it all on our post-game videos below.
Larry Nance Jr. Suffers Probable Hand Fracture (The Play)
D’Angelo Russell On Lessons Learned Of Summer League