The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt with huge blows as Anthony Davis was ruled out of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a right calf contusion. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel then bared his strategy in the event that either Davis or LeBron James might miss their upcoming games due to injuries.
“I would anticipate that if LeBron or Anthony misses (a game), that Kyle would likely be the starter in those situations,” Vogel said via The Athletic, “because … he can fill in either one of those spots. But we’ll take that case by case.”
Indeed, Kyle Kuzma proved his worth against the Timberwolves where he started the game at the power forward position in lieu of Davis' absence. He maximized his opportunities and ultimately balled out with 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes.
Almost all of Kuzma's points came in the first half where the Lakers found themselves with a huge 67-45 lead at the end of the second quarter. The wide gap between the two teams eventually came in handy as LeBron James was limited in the second half after rolling the same ankle that he previously tweaked in their season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The four-time NBA MVP finished his stint in the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists through 26 minutes of action. Even without James on the floor, the Lakers continued to step on the gas pedal in the second half en route to a commanding 127-91 victory.
After a strong collaborative effort from the players on the roster, Vogel and his squad now improved to a 2-1 record while the Timberwolves dipped to an identical 2-1 tally.
The Lakers faithful will get to see more of Kyle Kuzma potentially easing into a larger role in their upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers as the playing status of LeBron James remains to be questionable due to recent his ankle injury.
Nonetheless, the team will still aim to grab their third win of the season at the expense of Damian Lillard and the visiting Trail Blazers on Dec. 28.
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