It was shades of Summer League but more importantly, a huge opportunity for the young players to show their worth. And they came through, being led as they were in Las Vegas, by a couple of teenagers.
Although both teams rested their big names, the Nets and Lakers superstars were on hand at Staples Center, smiling, checking out the box score and soaking in the vibe of preseason basketball. To make the game even sweeter for the Nets idle “Big Three,” Brooklyn came out victorious, defeating Los Angeles, 123-97, in the first game of the 2021-22 season.