If it wasn't obvious enough, the Los Angeles Lakers (15-28) have had a really tough time without the services of rising star forward Brandon Ingram and rookie point guard Lonzo Ball on Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
This was especially true for head coach Luke Walton's defensive unit, an aspect of the Lakers' game that showed a good deal of improvement during their four-game winning streak.
Luckily for the Lakers, they should be getting at least one of them back for Wednesday night's primetime matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to a couple of tweets this afternoon from Bill Oram of the Orange County Register, Ingram is expected to play tomorrow night. Unfortunately, coach Walton also thinks that Ball's status is more in doubt.
Brandon Ingram said he was able to get some sprints in during Lakers practice in OKC this afternoon. Hopeful he’ll play tomorrow but will depend on how he feels in the morning.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) January 16, 2018
Luke Walton said he “would expect” Brandon Ingram to play tomorrow. Different story for Lonzo Ball, who did not practice. Technically questionable, but probably somewhere between doubtful and out.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) January 16, 2018
The shorthanded Lakers clearly missed Ball (knee) and Ingram (ankle) on Monday, as Los Angeles' four-game winning streak was snapped by the Grizzlies in a 123-114 loss at the FedEx Forum.
Whenever the young Lakers would get within striking distance, the Grizzlies would simply have a strong response and pull away again with their hot shooting. The Grizzlies shot 42-of-82 (51.2 percent) from the field and an efficient 10-of-22 from behind the arc.
Per Joey Ramirez of Lakers.com:
“We weren’t physically, mentally ready to match what Memphis brought tonight,” coach Walton said after the game. “And that’s disappointing because that doesn’t have to do with anything but the toughness to be engaged in a fight. … We let them kind of punk us all over the floor.”
Things will not get any easier for the Lakers on the road Wednesday night when they take on the star-studded Thunder, who have won two straight games.
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