Young Lakers players to get more minutes

Lakers fans will get to see the kids play more often in the last 22 games of the season.

Rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell, second-year guard Jordan Clarkson and second-year forward Julius Randle will continue to start and get lots of minutes, and rookie forward Larry Nance Jr. will keep getting his playing time in a reserve role, Coach Byron Scott said Monday.

Also, rookie forward Anthony Brown and second-year center Tarik Black will see more action.

“I’m in that mode right now,” Scott said. “Sometimes people just want you to do it a whole lot faster than you want to do it. And that’s their prerogative. But they’re not here every day with me.”

Brown started at small forward Friday night in place of Kobe Bryant, who had a sore right shoulder, and the Stanford rookie played 32 minutes against Memphis. Prior to Friday’s game, Brown had played only four minutes in February.

But Brown is expected to get some playing time Tuesday night against Brooklyn whether Bryant plays or not.

“Now I want to see again, these last 20 or so games, let’s see how much he’s developed from that time where he was getting starts and he was playing 18, 19 minutes a game to now,” Scott said about Brown. “Let’s see if he’s gotten better.”

Black is the third-string center trying to carve out time behind starter Roy Hibbert and veteran reserve Brandon Bass.

Black, who played 12 minutes against Memphis, has played in the last three games.

“The last couple of games it was like, ‘OK, let’s start putting him back out there. Let’s get a good look at him,’” Scott said. “I think it’s possible I could have four of the young guys out there at the same time.”

Bryant’s return?

Scott said the two days Bryant had off from practice allows his 37-year-old star to get rejuvenated.

“I really suspect that he’ll probably play [Tuesday] and Wednesday because I know it’s his last time in Denver,” Scott said. “I’ll talk to him later on [Tuesday] and see how he’s feeling and we’ll just kind of go from there.”

Even if Bryant plays against Brooklyn, the new offense Scott installed before Friday’s loss to Memphis will continue. It is intended to increase ball movement, reduce the number of isolation plays and to get everyone involved.

“It’s one set with a ton of options. That’s all. It’s just like the Princeton offense,” Scott said.

NEXT UP

LAKERS VS. BROOKLYN NETS

When: 7:30 p.m. PST.

Where: Staples Center.

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

Records: Lakers 11-49, Nets 17-42 before Monday.

Record vs. Nets: 1-0.

Update: The Lakers’ first victory of the season came at Brooklyn back on Nov. 6, a 104-98 verdict that broke a four-game losing streak. The Lakers now hope to end an eight-game losing streak, their second-longest of the season, against the Nets.