This would not be the Los Angeles Lakers-Brooklyn Nets matchup of years past.
It was not star-studded national television, so Dennis Schröder and Kyrie Irving would not make waves by getting each other ejected, plus LeBron James was out with a groin injury. So were the rest of Los Angeles’ front-court regulars, including Dorian Finney-Smith, who received a “thank you” photo on the Jumbotron but no other attention playing against his former team.
Brooklyn was also short-handed, resting Cam Thomas and Trendon Watford on the first night of a back-to-back. But, after he powered through a pregame “questionable” tag, Barclays Center, filled with yellow, was all set for the Luka Donu010diu0107 Show.