It was a potential preview of the NBA Finals, albeit with superstars on both sides out of injuries. But nonetheless, Los Angeles Lakers goalie Dennis Schroder on Saturday called the Brooklyn Nets’ best win of 126-101 LA “the best win of the year.”
The Lakers played without stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as Kyle Kuzma (left calf strain), Wesley Matthews (right Achilles strain) and Marc Gasol (left hamstring strain), but led the Nets until to 28 points to win for the fifth time in his last eight games.
“Like I said all season, when we play wildly on defense, we always have chances,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after LA kept Brooklyn with a 43.5% shot and his most point. down in eight games. “I’m super proud of our group.”
It’s not that Brooklyn was in full force, either, with James Harden (right hamstring) and Kevin Durant with a minute restriction in his second game back due to a hamstring injury of his own. In addition, Kyrie Irving came into play with Schroder in the third quarter and two were sent off.
However, the Lakers had overall contributions, with eight maximum players of the season reaching the double-digit score and the team tied the best season with 19 points to 3. In addition, Talen Horton-Tucker has obtained 11 assists in the race, Alfonzo McKinnie has had nine rebounds in the season, Markieff Morris has scored three steals in the season and Ben McLemore has scored five 3s in his second game with the team.
“I’ve learned a lot from today’s game, that we have a lot of guys in this locker room who are very tough,” said Andre Drummond, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his strongest game since joining Los Angeles in the shopping market. . “Even who is on the other side of the court, they will go out to play. No matter how many minutes the boys play, they will play to the best of their ability. And we have fun doing it. Tonight we had a lot of fun playing and getting this victory “.
Drummond sure looked like he was having fun when he drove and scored LaMarcus Aldridge in the middle of the third quarter. Drummond threw a free kick as he headed for the hoop and then dropped his hand below his knees in celebration, making a gesture that Aldridge was too small to protect.
“It was a good basket,” Drummond said with a laugh. “This is my signature that I do when I mark people and get an i-1, so nothing towards LaMarcus intentionally. That’s what I do. No matter who’s there, it’s happening.”
It looks like everything was going for LA after the clash between Irving and Schroder, making an extensive 57-33 run from that point until there were only a couple of minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Irving, a ten-year veteran, and Schroder, an eight-year professional, entered the top-flight match, as each played more than 500 career games without an expulsion. That changed for both of them in the third quarter.
The pair exchanged words after Irving was called to a personal foul on Schroder with 9 minutes left, 41 seconds left in the third quarter and the Lakers advancing 66-62, causing referee Zach Zarba to separate the two. and make a double technical foul – one on each player.
Irving and Schroder continued to gag each other after teammates intervened to pass between them when Irving was called up for a second technical foul by referee Tyler Ford, resulting in an automatic expulsion. Schroder was awarded a second technical foul after referee Jason Goldenberg.
“I don’t think it was necessary,” Schroder said after the game. “It’s unfortunate to have left my team alone. And I mean I don’t really know, I don’t even know what I did. But they kicked me out and I apologized to teammates.”
Zarba explained the officials’ decisions to a pool reporter later.
“After assessing the first technical fouls, the two players were warned not to continue,” he said. “And so when Irving couldn’t stop calling Schroder, his second technical foul was assessed and he was sent off. And after Irving was sent off, if you watch the video, Schroder said goodbye to him. in a mocking way, and that’s why he was sent off for a second technical foul. “
Irving did not speak to reporters after the loss, letting his teammates explain what happened.
“We were in the game, but I won’t blame him for the expulsion because he changed the momentum,” said Durant, who scored 22 points in 24 minutes but also had eight rotations. “They got it, so we should have pushed it forward.”
The win brought the Lakers record to 2-1 on their current five-game road trip to the East Coast.
“When you see guys outside and you see a big opponent like the Nets, you can be a little overwhelmed and not sure if you’ll have a chance to win it. But you want to keep track of these ‘boys mentality,'” he said. say Vogel. “And we knew that if we managed to impose ourselves briefly against this rival, we would feel good and it would be one of the best victories of the year.
“So we’re happy about that.”