Lakers Coach Byron Scott says Julius Randle has ‘got to grow up’

Drama always has a way of tiptoeing into the Lakers’ backdrop, whether they’re seeking four consecutive championships or, in these sadder days, four victories in a row.

Even though the Golden State Warriors are coming to town Tuesday for a true reality check, there was more interest Monday in the prickly relationship between Lakers Coach Byron Scott and Julius Randle.

The 21-year-old reserve power forward did not like being mentioned by Scott for playing poor defense after the Lakers’ 97-77 victory Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

“I don’t think there was defense on the court at all in the fourth quarter and he singled me out. I think it was a team thing,” said Randle, who didn’t speak to reporters after Sunday’s game but was available Monday after practice.

Randle also disliked being taken out of the game by Scott. He appeared to pout on the bench.

“Fifteen minutes,” he said, referring to his approximate total playing time. “I was frustrated I wasn’t on the court. Simple.”

His official playing time was 15 minutes 57 seconds, during which he scored two points and missed all four of his shots from the field. His stats weren’t poor enough to be removed, he suggested.

Lakers frontcourt players Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle try to block the shot of Suns forward P.J. Tucker.

(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

“It wasn’t like I was 0 for 25 or something. I took four shots. Still had 12 rebounds, still had three assists,” Randle said.

Randle was irritated on the court in the fourth quarter of a rare Lakers blowout victory, yelling at reserve point guard Marcelo Huertas to pass him the ball. Randle was trying to post up Phoenix guard Ronnie Price but was near the free-throw line, not down low.

The way Randle acted in the game and also afterward by ditching reporters was not condoned by Lakers officials.

“He’s got to grow up. Simple as that,” Scott said. “I think the main thing I don’t like is when you take him out of games, how he reacts sometimes. I chalk it up to immaturity and just being inexperienced in this level. It’s going to happen again. I’m going to take him out of other games that he’s not going to like.”

Some of this could be big-picture frustration coming out sideways. Randle has lost ground in trying to recapture his starting job because rookie Larry Nance Jr. has been a pleasant surprise since replacing him in the opening lineup four weeks ago.

Nance is one of the friendliest players on the team. There’s no rivalry there. But maybe Randle is feeling the pinch of reduced minutes.

Nance was the 27th overall pick in the 2015 draft while Randle was drafted seventh in 2014.

“That’s almost asking if he’s jealous of Larry. I don’t think so,” Scott said. “The one thing about Julius that I do know is that he wants this bad. He wants to perform. He wants to play well.

Lakers Coach Byron Scott has some pointers for forward Julius Randle during a game against the Nets on Nov. 6 in Brooklyn.

(Kathy Kmonicek / Associated Press)

“Sometimes you want that too bad. You’ve got to relax and just kind of let the game come to you. But again, he’s 21 years old. He’s young. He’s going to go through these type of things. As a coach, I’m going to let him go through it. I said my peace last night and I’m going to let him go through it.”

Randle’s stats are almost the same whether he starts or comes off the bench.

He is averaging 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds as a starter, 10.8 and 10.1 as a reserve. The main difference is in his accuracy — he makes 43.3% of his shots when starting and 38.9% off the bench. Both figures are substandard for a power forward operating close to the basket.

If Randle needed to be apologetic to Scott, he wasn’t.

“Basketball is an emotional sport. I’m going to feel some type of way about it,” Randle said. “It’s not in my control [to start], but regardless, I’m going to feel frustrated or happy or whatever it may be.”

Streaking

Hey, the Lakers have won three in a row.

“Yeah, but we’ve got some real tests coming up,” Scott said quickly.

Beyond Golden State on Tuesday, the Lakers have a quick trip to Sacramento and then play host to Oklahoma City on Friday.

The Lakers (8-27) hadn’t won three consecutive games since last February. It won’t be easy to notch a fourth.

They were buried by 34 against Golden State in November and, truly, their quality of opponents hadn’t been incredible the last three games — Boston, Philadelphia and Phoenix were a combined 33-68 before facing them.

Bryant questionable

Kobe Bryant was questionable for Tuesday’s game because of a sore shoulder that kept him sidelined the previous two games.

Scott continued to say he wasn’t overly concerned because Bryant wasn’t worried about the soreness.

NEXT UP

LAKERS VS. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. PST.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: TWC SportsNet, TWC Deportes; Radio: 710, 1330.

Records: Lakers 8-27; Warriors 31-2 before Monday.

Record vs. Warriors: 0-1.

Update: Golden State trounced the Lakers in November, 111-77, to break the NBA record of 15 consecutive victories to start the season. Kobe Bryant had four points and made only one of 14 attempts (7.1%) that night, tying his worst shooting game ever when taking more than four shots. Luke Walton continues to coach the Warriors in place of Steve Kerr (back surgery). Stephen Curry has been largely idled over the last week by a bruised left shin.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan