The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets went into Friday’s contest at the Barclays Center without a single win between the two teams on the season.
Naturally, one team had to end the losing streak so Kobe Bryant and company gladly obliged.
The Nets appeared to be on their way for their first victory in the early going, seemingly getting anything they wanted on their way to a 27-18 first quarter lead.
Then Byron Scott, who warned earlier in the day that his patience will run thin quickly with the young players on his team, decided to do something he hadn’t done all season long: play Metta World Peace. Once the defensive veteran was inserted into the contest, the complexion of the game changed and the Lakers were able to hold a team to under 100 points for the first time this season with a 104-98 victory.
Rookie Larry Nance Jr. also saw some extended playing time for the first time this season and was able to make a positive impact on the defensive end of the floor. Overall, World Peace had a team-leading +12 in his 17 minutes and Nance Jr. followed with a second-best +9 in his 16 minutes.
After watching the contest, Magic Johnson explained why Scott deserved the game ball:
The Game Ball goes to Coach Scott for playing MWP and Larry Nance Jr, both played good defense.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 7, 2015
Having the game ball for getting his first win in five tries probably isn’t something on Scott’s mind, but he certainly should get the credit for making necessary adjustments to help his team get that elusive win.
Jim Park is a blogger and Tweet of the Night author of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
He might as well get a ball, because other than his Lakers salary, he’s not going to get much after he’s fired.