Los Angeles Lakers power forward Kyle Kuzma will be out tonight against the Sacramento Kings with cramps.
The Los Angeles Lakers summer league team has lost a lot of its luster. Coming into the Las Vegas Summer League, the Lakers were expected to play very well. Los Angeles was the co-favorites to take home the summer league title along with the Phoenix Suns. Things have not gone as planned.
The Lakers come into tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings 0-2 in summer league. They lost the first game to the Los Angeles Clippers and the second one to the Boston Celtics. Despite the losses, the Lakers have had a few great performances.
In the first game, Brandon Ingram scored 26 points. In the second game, Kyle Kuzma poured in 31 and Lonzo Ball triple-doubled. Fellow 2017 first round pick, Josh Hart, also scored 15 points. Unfortunately, none of them will be taking the court tonight against the Kings.
Ingram was immediately announced out for the remainder of the summer after he experienced cramps against the Clippers. Hart sprained his ankle against the Celtics and will not suit up tonight. Earlier today it was announced that Ball would sit out with a sore groin. Now, Kuzma was announced out.
Kuzma will miss tonight’s game against the Kings because of cramps. Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported Kuzma will be out, and Thomas Bryant is probable with a sore left knee.
Kyle Kuzma is also out tonight (cramps). Thomas Bryant listed as probable (left knee soreness). So at least 3 of 4 Lakers draft picks out
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 10, 2017
This is disappointing for the fans that will be attending the game. The matchup between the Lakers and Kings was an anticipated one given the young talent on the roster.
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Ball and De’Aaron Fox will be linked together for as long as they play as they were both top five picks in the 2017 NBA Draft. They played against each other twice in college as well, as the UCLA Bruins led by Ball and Kentucky Wildcats led by Fox split the two meetings.
In the front court, it would have been fun to watch Kuzma go up against the likes of Skal Labissiere. But, we will not get to see that.
While it is a letdown, the Lakers are not going to take any chances in the summer. Cramps seem like a weird reason for a player to sit out, but that is what Ingram was experiencing and he was immediately shut down as well.
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The Lakers will be quite shorthanded tonight with three of their four draft picks sitting out. Expect players such as David Nwaba and P.J. Dozier to pick up more minutes. Alec Brown could also make his summer league debut with Kuzma out in the frontcourt.