Lakers looking to take advantage of a lighter schedule
SACRAMENTO — By NBA standards, the Lakers are in the midst of an easier stretch.
Wednesday night’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center was the first of just three games across 11 days.
They had two days off entering Wednesday; they’ll have two more days off ahead of Saturday’s home game vs. the Golden State Warriors and will have three days off between hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Monday and the Philadelphia 76ers on March 22.
“It makes us even more comfortable to pour everything – our mind, body and spirits into [Wednesday],” Coach Darvin Ham said before Wednesday’s game. “And then we’ll get into Golden State in the next couple of days.
“But it starts with [Wednesday]. Not looking over the Kings’ shoulder and trying to see what’s going to happen in that game, who’s going to be in the lineup, who’s not going to be in the lineup for them. We have to put all of our focus on what’s exactly, immediately in front of us and that’s Sacramento.”
Wednesday’s game and the Warriors matchup are especially important for the Lakers and their playoff pursuit.
The Lakers entered Wednesday two games behind the Kings for the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference standings and one spot ahead of the Warriors for the No. 9 spot.
Wednesday was the last time the Kings and Lakers matched up this regular season, with Sacramento already winning the regular-season series after being victorious in the first three matchups.
The Lakers-Warriors season series is tied at one win apiece. They’ll play their final regular-season matchup on April 9.
“Like you said, two important games, two games that we need to win as far as the standings are concerned,” Anthony Davis said after the team’s morning shootaround. “But we just want to keep our energy, our momentum going as well. So it’s good.
“We don’t get that much practice time. We have not had that much practice time. Now we’re able to get a couple of days to practice, touch on some things for the other team, ourselves. Also, having so much time in between games is letting guys get back healthy as well.”
REDDISH UPDATE
Forward Cam Reddish, who missed his second consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle, is “day-to-day,” per Ham.
Reddish missed 14 consecutive games from Jan. 23-Feb. 28 after suffering the ankle injury in their Jan. 23 loss to the Clippers.
He’s been in and out of the lineup recently because of the ailment.
“He was cleared,” Ham said. “I mean, it’s a matter of you still have to get into the rhythm of the game and see how your body responds to that activity. And so, if they respond well, then we are where we are.”
A starter earlier in the season, Reddish has played in just 40 of the Lakers’ 67 games so far.