Kersey Provides Immediate Dividends

The Lakers activated Jerome Kersey before Sunday’s game at Phoenix, as expected, then got a little more than they expected.

Kersey, returning from a broken left foot, played his first game since the Oct. 16 exhibition contest against the Dallas Mavericks and was limited to 15 minutes by the medical staff. Then he played 18 minutes, more than he figured he would go no matter what the doctors said, contributing three points, four rebounds and four assists to the 102-88 victory over the Suns.

“It’s a little tender right now, but relatively painless,” said Kersey, being counted on for a key role as the backup small forward, all the more important with Cedric Ceballos out six to eight weeks. “But throughout the game, it held up and I felt pretty good. Just a little tired.”

That much was expected, Kersey being far from game shape with only one practice before the Laker debut.

“He was really good doing the little things that helped us to win,” Coach Del Harris said. “I thought he stimulated the defense in the first half when he went in, then he helped close the game [in the fourth quarter].”