Ball blocks out noise to take shine off Nuggets

LOS ANGELES - With his father and US President Donald Trump engaged in a bitter war of words, Lonzo Ball made his second career triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers' 127-109 win over the shorthanded Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Ball had 11 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and 11 assists in the 20-year-old rookie's first triple-double in front of his hometown fans at Staples Center.

Julius Randle scored 24, Brook Lopez made 21 and Jordan Clarkson added 18 for the Lakers, who surged to a 24-point lead in the first half and easily won for just the second time in seven games.

Denver coach Mike Malone and top scorer Nikola Jokic were ejected in the second quarter after Malone stepped onto the court during play to argue a no-call on a play by Jokic around the basket.

Malone furiously confronted referee Rodney Mott, who swiftly ejected the coach and his best player when Jokic joined in the argument.

Forward Paul Millsap also left with a sprained left wrist in the second quarter of a miserable night at Staples Center for the Nuggets, who lost for just the second time in six games.

Ball had a big game while his father, LaVar, is engaged in a public argument concerning President Trump's role in resolving brother LiAngelo's arrest for shoplifting during a UCLA basketball trip to China earlier this month.

Ball and Magic Johnson are the only Lakers with multiple triple-doubles in their rookie seasons.

Johnson, now working in LA's front office as president of basketball operations, had seven; his new point guard has two in his first 17 games.

Associated Press

(China Daily 11/21/2017 page23)