Juan Blanco, RotoWire
Lonzo Ball’s explosive 36-point performance, which included two key free throws in the closing seconds, led the 15-seeded Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-102 victory over 18-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in Las Vegas Summer League playoff action Wednesday at Cox Pavilion.
Ball, the 2017 No. 2 overall pick, shot 54.5 percent from the field, dished out 11 assists and hauled in eight boards. He had four crucial points in the final 43.2 seconds, including a game-tying layup with 21.2 ticks left, as well as a subsequent free throw that gave the Lakers (2-2) a momentary 101-100 lead. The final push was part of a dominant fourth quarter for Los Angeles, which outscored the Philadelphia (1-3) by a 28-19 margin. Both the Lakers (51.4 percent) and 76ers (47 percent) had impressive nights from the field.
Ball added five steals and two blocks to his spectacular all-around stat line. Promising center Ivica Zubac’s own remarkable performance was overshadowed by Ball, but he nonetheless posted 21 points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Kyle Kuzma recorded a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included four assists, two blocks and a steal, while Matt Thomas turned in 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Travis Wear led the bench with seven points and four rebounds.
Furkan Korkmaz led the Sixers with 19 points, three assists, a rebound and a steal. Alex Poythress followed with 16 points, five boards, a steal and a block, and Larry Drew II was right behind him with 15 points, eight assists, two rebounds and two steals. James Blackmon, Jr. supplied 12 points and a rebound, while Isaiah Briscoe collected 12 points, two boards, two assists and a steal while leading the bench.
The Lakers move on to face the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Round 2 of the Summer League playoffs.
