LA Lakers Can Put Up a Fight, but at Best, They’re Going Down Swinging

The Los Angeles Lakers put up a fight against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night and went down swinging. Nick Young was ejected during the second quarter, leaving a shorthanded squad to do battle—it felt like a microcosm of the entire season to date.

Phoenix jumped out to an early lead before Young got hot, scoring nine points in 11 minutes off the bench. Swaggy P may have got too fired up when he tried to dunk over Alex Len. Young got hit in the face and went to the floor—he popped back up and the fracas was on. As pleasantries were exchanged, Goran Dragic attempted to offer an opinion, prompting Young to swing at his head. The festivities ended with both Young and Len getting tossed.



Apparently, Young was a bit miffed that nobody from his side jumped into the scrum. Perhaps he didn't notice Ryan Kelly in the mix.



Losing your leading scorer doesn't necessarily help a 14-25 team facing one with a 22-16 record. Still, spurred by Young's ejection, the Lakers went on an 18-6 run fueled largely by three-pointers—one each from Jodie Meeks and Ryan Kelly and two from Kendall Marshall, who also had 13 assists for the night.

Pau Gasol, who was nursing a sore foot, also scored a key bucket during the run on an assist from Marshall. The Lakers ended the first half with a lead, 58-54. 

Phoenix came back with a strong third quarter, thanks to a hot shooting hand from Gerald Green, who wound up with a season-high 28 points. The Lakers managed to tie it up in the fourth quarter off a pair of free throws from Chris Kaman. The Suns would go on to win, however, 121-114.


Kaman had one his best games as a Laker, finishing with 18 points off the bench. He's got as good a reason to fight as anybody—it was widely assumed that the former All-Star would have a meaningful role when he was signed last summer, and it simply hasn&rsqu...

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