Lonzo Ball didn't play a minute of the fourth quarter in the Los Angeles Lakers' 100-93 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday, but it apparently had nothing to do with his 3-for-10 shooting night.
"It's tough and it's a feel thing," Lakers coach Luke Walton said afterward, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "(Corey) Brewer and (Jordan) Clarkson were both incredible tonight ... obviously Zo's ability to play the game and run that point spot for us - there were a couple times I was one play away from putting him back in, and one of those guys would make a play."
Clarkson and Brewer combined for 38 points off the bench. As a result, Ball didn't sound concerned.
"We got the win, everything worked out, so I got no complaints and (Clarkson) was hot," the rookie added. "I would have rolled with him, too."
The fourth-quarter benching came after Ball had one of his best outings as a pro in Saturday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, registering his first NBA triple-double and shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. However, that was one of only two games in which Ball has shot above 45 percent so far. Overall, he's at 33.3 percent through 14 games, which includes under 29 percent from deep.
