This was an crazy and impressive game by the Lakers — taking on the Cavs last night. That picture above says it all about the Lakers’ injuries. The Lakers ended the game with only four eligible players — even experts were confused on what to do. Robert Sacre remained in the game with 6 fouls due to a bizarre NBA rule. Hit the jump for details…
Via ESPN:
Los Angeles lost two more players to injuries Wednesday night and had to go to a little-known NBA rule to hold on for a 119-108 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rookie Ryan Kelly scored a career-high 26 points and Steve Blake had his first career triple-double for Los Angeles, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. The Lakers set a franchise record for 3-pointers, going 18-for-37 from long range.
But Los Angeles’ first win in two weeks was overshadowed by a bizarre ending.
The Lakers had eight available players going into the game. Then Nick Young twisted his left knee in the first half, and Chris Kaman fouled out early in the fourth quarter. When Jordan Farmar left with leg cramps in the final period, that put Los Angeles at five players.
…Each side has to have five players on the court at all times during an NBA game. With the Lakers down to five healthy players, D’Antoni was informed by the officials that he could leave Sacre on the floor and any additional foul on the center would also result in a technical.
(Story Continues…)
