MANILA, Philippines — The NBA returned on Saturday (Manila time) just two months after wrapping up its 2020 season that saw the Los Angeles Lakers capture the title in a bubble environment in Orlando, Florida.
The defending champions headlined day one of preseason, beating the LA Clippers, 87-81, at Staples Center without LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris and Marc Gasol also sat out.
Montrezl Harrell, one of the Lakers’ biggest offseason acquisitions, had a double-double in his preseason debut for the Lakers, putting up 13 points and 12 rebounds against his former team.
The 26-year-old big man, who is the reigning Sixth Man of the Ye…
Keep on reading: Harrell, Lakers beat Clippers in preseason