Because of their 2-2 record in the Las Vegas summer league at the end of this week, the Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled for one more game: a “consolation” game on Saturday versus the Chicago Bulls.
Their coaching staff decided to sit out Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Maxwell Lewis, arguably their three best players, which may have led one to think they would lose this final contest.
Instead, Los Angeles came out red hot, going 12-of-18 from the field while hitting all seven of its 3-point attempts in the first quarter as it took a 39-18 lead. Although it cooled off considerably over the next two quarters, it still ended the game with a 107-81 victory.
A number of unsung heroes played well for the Lakers and made this win possible.
Guard Blake Hinson started the day in excellent fashion, scoring 21 points in the first half thanks to some very hot outside shooting. Although he went cold in the second half, he still had 25 points in 26 minutes.
Quincy Olivari, a guard from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, ripped the nets for 20 points while going 6-of-13 from downtown. Grayson Murphy, a 6-foot-3 guard who went undrafted in 2022 out of Belmont University, registered 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Center Moses Brown once again did some admirable work on the boards. He finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in 15 minutes.