LOS ANGELES – Another game ended with D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and the rest of the Lakers starters on the bench.
Instead of a young core brimming with athleticism and swagger, fans watched instead as a lineup that included Ryan Kelly, Marcelo Huertas and Brandon Bass got the Lakers back into the game, an eventual 95-90 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
It was a unit that proved capable of staging a comeback, but hardly stirred much excitement for the Lakers future.
Jordan Clarkson was the only Lakers starter who played in the final quarter, and he was only in for the last eight seconds after Lou Williams fouled out.