Saturday morning’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in Shenzhen is expected to go on as planned, although there will be similar restrictions to Thursday’s game in Shanghai. But at least one star player in the game won’t be dressing after re-injuring himself on Thursday.
Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving will miss Saturday’s game after getting hit in the face, where he is already nursing a facial fracture, by Lakers guard Rajon Rondo. Irving played only a few minutes on Thursday.
In addition to Irving, Nets guard Caris Levert is questionable after having a collision with Lakers center Dwight Howard.
As for the Lakers, it’s expected that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will likely both play for at least the first half. Both players played into the beginning of the second half and reached the 25-minute mark before sitting the rest of the way in Thursday’s game. They also have quite the quick turnaround as they will be back on the court Monday at Staples Center for their preseason home opener against the Golden State Warriors.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel has also shuffled the starting lineup in the last two games, with James and Davis being the only players to start in both of their preseason games so far.
