It’s hard to keep things positive when you lose to a team you know you should beat at this point of season. Even with Lamelo Ball out of the picture, along with the pure, unadulterated fact that the Hornets are just not good, the Nets still lost by the outstretched arms of Miles Bridges. With the Nets now on a seven=game losing streak, there is no light at the end of the tunnel as of now, especially with what Brooklyn has to face tonight.
To start a fresh new week, the Nets will be taking on one of the hottest teams in the league in the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the 111-101 loss they suffered Sunday against the Boston Celtics and LeBron’s adductor strain, the Lakers have enjoyed quite the stretch since the trade deadline: an eight game winning streak thanks to the bizarre trade they made for Luka Doncic. But just like the Nets, there might be darkness at the end of the tunnel for the Lake Show as Lebron James is injured. Will that affect the Lakers for tonight’s matchup? We will see.
Where to Watch
Check out the action at 7:30 p.m. on the YES Network or Gotham Sports App.
Injury Report
Cam Thomas, Trendon Watford, De’Anthony Melton are all out for the Brooklyn Nets. Tyson Etienne, Dariq Whitehead, and Tosan Evbuomwan will all be in Long Island. Thomas and Watford are on injury management.
For the Lakers, Lebron James is out with a groin strain. Former Net Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Maxi Kleber (right foot), and Rui Hachimura (knee) will also miss action as well. To make matters worse, Luka is questionable with back soreness, as well as Jaxson Hayes due to knee problems.
The Game
If you were looking forward to a high energy game filled with stars and high flying athletes, you sadly came to the wrong place. Starting with the Nets, Cam Thomas will be back on the bench to manage his injury. This is understandable due to Thomas’ recent play, as his shooting numbers haven’t been pleasant despite still being able to find ways to score the basketball. Trendon Watford, who has personally been one of my favorite Nets to watch as of late, will be out as well, leaving the amount of ball handlers limited to run the offense. D’Angelo Russell will have to step up even more than his 28 points he accumulated against the Hornets.
The Lakers will be trying to keep things going, switching from multi-polar offense to letting Luka Doncic take the lead. So far since the trade (heist), Luka and LeBron have changed things in Los Angeles, California. Notes Silver Pick and Roll’s Alex Legla:
Before the trade, the Lakers generated just 16.3 wide-open and 14.1 open threes per contest, according to the league’s tracking data. Both marks ranked near the bottom of the league.
Since Dončić’s arrival, the team has averaged 19.4 wide-open and 19.6 open threes. The latter is the second-highest in the NBA during that span.
While he is questionable tonight, it might be smart for the Lake Show to give Doncic as much time on the court as possible, even if it’s against the team with the NBA’s longest current losing streak and on the road.
Player to Watch: Austin Reaves
Reaves will possibly be the Lakers leading ball handler tonight, and he will be trusted in that role with the production he gives night after night. Averaging 18.8 PPG on the season, Reaves has received the complete trust of the city of Los Angeles due to his ability to step up in big moments, and being always available (played 82 games last season and 55 out of 62 so far this season.)
Reaves, it should be remembered, scored a then career-high 38 points back on January 18 and the Lakers held on to beat the Nets 102-101. It was a show case of efficiency, something the 6’6” shooting guard is known for: He shot 13-of-23 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the foul line. Reaves had 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers.
A reminder: Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 Draft, the same draft that produced Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams.
From the Vault
Remember, the Dallas Mavericks gave up this guy for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first round pick...
Billy King, rest easy. Yours is no longer the worst trade ever.
More reading: Silver Screen and Roll, SBNation NBA.