LOS ANGELES – Dennis Schroder missed the Lakers’ game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night because of NBA health and safety protocols, the team announced about an hour before the complaint.
Schroder started all 29 Lakers games this season, averaging 14.2 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds. Wesley Matthews started in his place against the Nets.
He is only the third Lakers player to waste time due to health and safety protocols this season, joining Alex Caruso and Alfonzo McKinnie. LA is one of the few teams that hasn’t had a game postponed because of COVID-19, with more than a third of the season already completed.
Schroder’s absence was the final blow to what could be a potential preview of the finals. The Lakers were without Anthony Davis, who is out with a sprained right calf and Achilles tendonosis. The Nets lost Kevin Durant for the third consecutive game due to a tendon strain in the left thigh.
Schroder’s news clearly caught the Lakers off guard. During his pre-game remarks, coach Frank Vogel pointed to Schroder as the key to LA’s plans to try to stop Kyrie Irving.
“They are prolific on the offensive side of the ball, so it will be a good challenge for our defense. I look forward to seeing the Dennis Schroder-Kyrie Irving duel,” said Vogel. “I think Dennis has given us a different dynamic this year and I look forward to seeing that match.”
The Lakers did not announce how much time Schroder could lose or disclose what triggered the health and safety protocols.