The Los Angeles Lakers dropped the preseason opener against Brooklyn Nets, 123-97, but there were some flashes to build on.
Los Angeles trailed 84-81 after three quarters, but Brooklyn’s deeper reserves had no trouble against the youngsters on L.A.’s bench.
But in the first three quarters, Malik Monk stood out with his scoring prowess, dropping 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 21 minutes.
READ: Player grades from Lakers’ preseason opener vs. Nets
DeAndre Jordan also had a strong showing protecting the glass. His minutes paired with Anthony Davis clogged the floor, but he finished the game with three blocks in 17 minutes.
After the game, Monk detailed where the team could improve.
“We could do a little better job of talking,” Monk said. “This is our first organized game against somebody else and not playing against each other, so it’ll come along each game we get. But we just got to communicate a little bit more.”
He added how the team will be tough to score on when everyone is available, as LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza didn’t play.
“But we got a lot of size, man, lot of size, lot of quickness,” Monk said. “I think it’ll be pretty scary to try to score on us.”
The next preseason game for L.A. is on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 3:00 p.m. PT against the Phoenix Suns.
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