The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves on Friday night, marking just the third time in franchise history that they have started a season 0-5. Los Angeles did manage to find at least one silver lining in its latest defeat, though.
For the first time since his rookie campaign, Russell Westbrook came off the bench, giving some much-needed energy to one of the lowest-scoring reserve groups in the league. He totaled 18 points (6-of-17 shooting), eight rebounds, three assists and five turnovers in 33 minutes.
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Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who pulled Westbrook from the first unit after just three starts, praised the nine-time All-Star for his contributions.
“My hat’s off to him once again. [He] came off [the bench] and showed the type of impact he can have in that reserve role and shoring up our bench,” Ham said during his postgame media availability. “Not just coming in and trying to maintain anything, but coming in and taking it up a notch.
“He was great in that role tonight, and I look forward to seeing him in it more once we start getting healthy bodies back.”
Russ rocking the baby x Bron tomahawk 🔥
Lakers duo came to play. pic.twitter.com/xGpBd26Fzt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 29, 2022
Los Angeles had to face Minnesota big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert without Anthony Davis, who was sidelined because of lower back tightness. The team has also been without other key contributors such as Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder.
Rather than stick Westbrook into Davis’ starting slot, Ham decided to go with Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron James and Damian Jones against the Timberwolves.
“It’s been like a multiple choice thing trying to figure out a rotation in terms of who’s healthy and who’s not healthy,” Ham said. “Once we get whole, we’ll definitely, hopefully, be closing out some of these games on the right side of the win and loss column.”
James, who had 28 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in the loss, also offered a positive review of Westbrook’s performance.
“He was great. It definitely catapulted to us,” James said. “He was great all game.”
Before Friday’s game, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Los Angeles plans to bring Westbrook off the bench for the “foreseeable future.” Westbrook admitted that it’s difficult to make sacrifices when the losses keep piling up, but he believes the Lakers will “figure it out.”
“I’m a guy that’s willing to do whatever for the team,” Westbrook said. “I’ve sacrificed whatever it is that’s needed to be sacrificed, parts of my game that I’ve done for years to accommodate whatever it is that the coach needs me to do. I’ll continue doing that.”
