Players May Change, but Lakers Still Take It to Clippers

No Shaq. No Elton. No Laker Girls.

Even Staples Center stalwart Chick Hearn did not attend Monday night’s Summer Pro League game between the Lakers and the Clippers.

A preview of next season’s highly anticipated matchup?

Hardly.

With rosters comprised of mainly NBA reserves and minor league players, the Lakers defeated the Clippers, 102-91, before a near capacity crowd at the Pyramid.

“This [game] has no value,” said Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry, who watched from the sidelines. “Unless they play without Shaq and Kobe next year.”

The NBA champions received a minor scare on the first possession. Point guard Mike Penberthy stepped on the foot of a Clipper and sprained his left ankle. He continued to play but did not return after being replaced midway through the second quarter. Penberthy believes he’ll play in Wednesday’s game against BC KYIV.

“It’s nothing serious,” said Penberthy, who finished with three points, one assist and three turnovers in 12 minutes. “It’s not the playoffs, it’s the summer league. So I wasn’t going to try to play through it.”

Early on Clipper Darius Miles, who scored 26 points, dominated in the up-tempo style.

With 10:14 left in the first quarter, the 6-foot-9 forward dunked off of his own offensive rebound. He then grabbed a defensive rebound, dribbled down court, and threw a bounce pass to Zendon Hamilton for an easy layup. Seconds later, Miles tossed an alley-oop to Keyon Dooling.

While Miles, Dooling and Hamilton combined for 64 of the Clippers’ points, the Lakers relied on lesser-known players. Devean George, who played sparingly in 2000-01, made nine of 15 shots from the field for 20 points. Joe Crispin, Penberthy’s replacement, had 17 points and guard Cookie Belcher had 14.

“Based on the team we had and the talent they had on the floor, I’m very pleased with the outcome,” said Laker assistant coach Jim Cleamons. “For four days of practice, I thought they did very well [running the triangle offense].”