Lakers recall Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black after D-League Showcase

On Monday, the Lakers recalled Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black from the NBA Development League.

The pair had been assigned to the D-Fenders over the weekend for the D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz, creating an awkward situation for the Lakers on Sunday with Kobe Bryant (Achilles’), D’Angelo Russell (ankle) and Brandon Bass (eye) sitting out Sunday.

The Lakers had just 10 available players in their loss at Staples Center to the Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile, the D-Fenders lost on Saturday to the Canton Charge 118-113, and then again on Sunday to the Grand Rapids Drive, 106-13. For the season, the Lakers’ NBA Development League affiliate has a record of 9-12.

Kelly scored 29 and 23 points over the two games. Black had 12 and 11 points, fouling out Sunday with 11 rebounds and four blocks. Former Lakers guard Vander Blue added 29 and 24 points.

Blue is the D-Fenders’ primary offensive threat this season, scoring 21.9 points a game with 4.4 assists.

Through seven appearances with the D-Fenders, Kelly is averaging a team-high 27.0 points, shooting 52.9% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. The third-year forward has also tallied 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a night, while dishing 3.0 assists.

Over the same span, Black has averaged 16.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, shooting 56.3% from the field.

The Lakers have previously sent rookie forward Anthony Brown to the D-League for seven games, though Brown has avoided recent assignment as part of Coach Byron Scott’s rotation.

Brown has scored 14.6 points with 4.0 rebounds a game with the D-Fenders, shooting 39.2% from the field and 31.9% from three-point range.

Center Robert Upshaw, who went through training camp with the Lakers, has played in 16 of 21 games, averaging 6.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 41.2% from the field.

Guard Michael Frazier, another Lakers camp invite, has played in 14 games, scoring 5.9 points a night with 1.8 assists.

The D-Fenders play again Thursday in El Segundo against the Reno Bighorns (12-8).

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.