For the Los Angeles Lakers, the second half of the 2020-21 NBA season begins tonight, and their starting lineup will look a little different than it has lately.
Lakers’ starters tonight vs. Indiana:
Damian Jones
Markieff Morris
LeBron James
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Dennis Schröder— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 13, 2021
Starting center Marc Gasol will miss tonight’s contest against the Indiana Pacers due to the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He had missed the final two games before the All-Star break for the same reason.
Superstar big man Anthony Davis, of course, is still out with a calf injury and Achilles tendonosis.
In lieu of Gasol, Damian Jones will get the start at center. He was just signed to a second 10-day contract by the Lakers, and he will get another opportunity to sell the team on keeping him for the rest of the season.
As a result, L.A. may be hard-pressed to contain Pacers big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. Sabonis is averaging 20.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists on the season and was named to the All-Star team for the second season in a row.
After tonight, the Purple and Gold will have two full days off before heading to Northern California to face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
