The Los Angeles Lakers will play against the Denver Nuggets in their first preseason game on Monday, October 6, 2014. The Lakers vs. Nuggets game will be held at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif. Fans can watch the game online via live stream below, and on TWC SportsNet and NBA TV.
The Lakers are starting Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Wesley Johnson, Carlos Boozer, and Jordan Hill. And the Nuggets are starting Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, and Javale McGee.
Tonight's game will feature the return of Bryant since December 17, 2013, and Nash since Apr. 8, 2014. While Bryant's and Nash's return brings back the fans' fond memories of the Lakers' championship legacy, Los Angeles have also added the subject of Linsanity Jeremy Lin to the roster.
Lin is expected to get more playing time as Young will need to spend about six to eight weeks in recovery, leaving the backup position for Kobe Bryant wide open.
Young was scrimmaging alongside Jeremy Lin on the second-string during last week's training camp, and was expected to have considerable playing time as a shooting guard behind Kobe Bryant this year after averaging 17.9 points per game in the 2013-14 season. Young tore a ligament in his right thumb after hitting Kobe Bryant's elbow during Friday's 5-on-5 scrimmage, however, and will likely have to sit out for the first two weeks of the 2014-15 season while he recovers from surgery.
Lin, who averaged 12.5 points per game and had a 35.8% three-point shooting percentage last year, had played at the one, two, and three positions for the Houston Rockets in seasons past. He is expected to be the second-string point guard for the Lakers behind veteran player Steve Nash, but might get some additional time on the floor playing at shooting guard in Young's stead.
Kobe Bryant might also play more minutes in his backup's absence, or Jordan Clarkson, Ronnie Price, and Wayne Ellington could also potentiallytake Young's spot to relieve him. If Lin were to fill in for Young as the backup shooting guard, then a recovering and soon-to-be retired Steve Nash might need to play extended minutes as well.
The Lakers open their regular season on October 28 at Staples Center against the Houston Rockets.
Tonight's preseason opener will begin at 7 p.m. PST, and can be watched online by clicking here.
