In a game that was considered as an NBA Finals preview, the Los Angeles Lakers, even without Lebron James and Anthony Davis, showed the Nets that they’re still the league’s defending champs by outscoring the Nets in the 1st, 3rd and 4th qtr by an average of 10 pts.
Laker’s buyout acquisition Andre Drummond contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder chipped-in 19 points before being ejected with Kyrie Irving in the third quarter.
The Los Angeles Lakers lead most of the games and was never really threaten by the Nets, even though getting 22 pts from Kevin Durant and 18 pts from Irving. The Nets are without their leading scorer James Harden who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Aside from Lebron and Davis, LA Lakers are also playing without Kyle Kuzma (left calf strain), Marc Gasol (left hamstring tightness) and Wesley Matthews (right Achilles tendon tightness).
The Lakers will visit New York Knicks while the Nets will go Minnesota on Monday.
Here’s the game highlights;
