The Los Angeles Lakers have hit a rough patch with the team having lost four straight games since an impressive win on the road over the Houston Rockets. The most recent loss came against the lowly Memphis Grizzlies where the team looked about as bad as they have all season.
Part of the reason for the team's recent struggles and dysfunction has been the absence of rookie point guard Lonzo Ball. The UCLA product is dealing with a shoulder sprain leaving fellow rookie Kyle Kuzma trying to lead the team alongside Brandon Ingram. Kuzma talked about the impact of not having Ball running the show in the backcourt after the loss to the Grizzlies, via ClutchPoints' Dan Duangdao.
https://twitter.com/DanDuangdao/status/946427606399717377
Kuzma had arguably his worst game on the NBA level thus far in Wednesday's loss with the breakout rookie failing to reach double-digit scoring for the first time since Dec. 7 in which he scored three points in 18 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 22-year-old finished with only nine points on 4-of-24 shooting and 1-for-11 from three-point range. Although Ingram and Jordan Clarkson tried to pick up the slack with a combined 45 points, it simply wasn't enough to overcome an impressive 32-point performance from Tyreke Evans.
As for Ball's status moving forward, the team will reevaluate him next week to determine when he may be able to get back on the floor. He's not expected to play against the L.A. Clippers on Friday nor against the Houston Rockets on New Year's Eve.
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