![]() I thought Dennis, before the ejection, did both of those things.” “No one can stop Kyrie, but you need somebody who can hold his own and who can go back at him on the other end. You need somebody like Dennis who can hold his own defensively. Two great players that can do it on both sides of the ball. That’s going to be a dynamic matchup if we’re going to see it again this season. I think that’s the first thing you have to state - his competitive spirit, his fight, his swag. (Elsa Garrison / Getty Images)Īnd if these teams see each other again, Vogel finally got a preview of what he wanted to see - his point guard refusing to back down from one of the NBA’s best. He finished with 17 points and five threes - all after halftime. Lakers newcomer Ben McLemore celebrates a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. ![]() Add in Irving being able to take the early train from the Barclays subway station, and the Nets that closed the game certainly were diminished from the version the Lakers could see down the road.īut forgetting about the long term, there’s plenty to celebrate in the present, the Lakers overcoming crippling absences from their lineup to mostly dominate the Eastern Conference favorites. The Lakers’ defense, which was fantastic once again, had it a little easier with James Harden out and Kevin Durant still working his way back from a hamstring injury. ![]() Schroder also got banged up in the first half, an awkward landing on his tailbone, sending him limping briefly to the bench. And Wesley Matthews, who was in the starting lineup Thursday in Miami, was a late scratch with a sore Achilles tendon. Marc Gasol wasn’t available because of a sore hamstring. Kyle Kuzma missed his second game in a row with a calf strain. Or maybe the latest round of Lakers-Nets won’t offer much to any possible NBA Finals preparation, considering how disjointed the rosters are. Maybe there are lessons to be learned from the win, the Lakers’ first over a bona-fide contender since the team lost Anthony Davis and LeBron James to injury. The organization that once won 33 straight games has had a different player kicked out three games in a row. After the ejections, the Lakers outscored Brooklyn 60-39.įor the Lakers, it was another all-time great streak. Leading 66-62 when the players were tossed, the Lakers quickly pushed that lead to 25 thanks to hot shooting from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ben McLemore. Officials confirmed Schroder was ejected for taunting. Schroder said he said “bye” to Irving after Irving got his second technical foul, while maybe adding a wave. ![]() Schroder and Irving, dueling in an entertaining showdown between point guards, both were ejected early in the third quarter - each called for two technical fouls for what appeared to be just heated trash-talking. “That’s the best win of the year,” Schroder said after watching the second half of a key win in the Lakers’ quest to avoid free-falling in the standings. Who knew getting it yanked away once again would help the Lakers get a lopsided 126-101 victory? Within the next hour, Vogel learned he’d be without Schroder because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, that potential matchup put on hold until Saturday in Brooklyn. I think that’s one that Dennis gives us a different dynamic this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing that.” “Looking forward to seeing the Dennis Schroder-Kyrie Irving matchup. “They’re prolific on the offensive side of the ball so it’s gonna be a good challenge for our defense,” Vogel said that day. (Elsa Garrison / Getty Images)īefore the Lakers hosted Brooklyn at Staples Center nearly two months ago, coach Frank Vogel said he was excited to watch his new point guard, Dennis Schroder, try to pester Nets star Kyrie Irving. Schroder scored 19 points in the 126-101 win. The Lakers' Dennis Schroder and the Nets' Kyrie Irving (11) have words early in the third quarter Saturday night.
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