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Lakers Backcourt Shares Career Night

With both of their leading scorers — Kobe Bryant (22.3 ppg) and Nick Young (14.1) — out due to injuries, the question for the Lakers before Tuesday’s game was: Where will the scoring come from?

L.A.’s new starting backcourt of Jordan Clarkson and Wayne Ellington answered that in a huge way, as both members unleashed career-high scoring efforts and combined for half of the team’s 92 points.

Though the Lakers fell victim to Washington’s comeback, Clarkson and Ellington displayed promise, shooting 20-for-38 from the field. The performance was especially impressive for Ellington, whose 28 points doubled his previous season high (13) with a couple to spare.

In just his 12th start in a purple and gold uniform, Ellington also joined Jodie Meeks and Eddie Jones (five times) as the only Lakers shooting guards other than Bryant to score at least 28 points in a game while shooting 60 percent or better since Bryant’s career began in 1996.

Ellington torched the Wizards in the first half by scoring 20 points while shooting 8-for-11, fueling the Lakers’ 57-46 halftime lead.

Wayne Ellington Shot Chart vs. Washington
Wayne Ellington Shot Chart vs. Washington

“I made up my mind: I’m going to come out aggressive,” Ellington said after the game. “We are a team that needs to be hungry. We have gotten off to slow starts the past few games. We need to change that. I was talking to the guys before the game just saying to come out hard with a little more intensity.”

Meanwhile, Clarkson, who has sat out 22 games due to coach’s decision this year, has begun to find his footing over his first three contests a starter. By pitching in 18 points against the Wizards, Clarkson is now averaging 12.3 points and 3.0 assists, while shooting 40.5 percent as a member of the starting five.

Jordan Clarkson Shot Chart vs. Washington
Jordan Clarkson Shot Chart vs. Washington

The rookie was contributing just 4.9 points and 0.8 assists on 38.8 percent shooting in 21 games off the bench, though it is largely a product of now averaging 19 more minutes of playing time (31).

“The first 40 games was more just him observing, watching and learning from the bench,” head coach Byron Scott said. “Like i said, I knew I was going to give him a chance to play and see what he could do. I just thought that this is the right time. Just to get him out there to get a good feel and gain some experience out there. So far in the first three games, I haven’t been disappointed.”

Moving forward, the Lakers hope their backcourt can continue to thrive, especially with Bryant recovering from shoulder surgery and Young (ankle) questionable for Thursday’s matchup with Chicago.