AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
A Lakers opener that began slowly and soberly ended, in awfully appropriate fashion, with sadness.
Midway through the fourth quarter Tuesday, the best young Lakers hope in a season already devoid of much hope fell to the Staples Center floor with a loud pop.
Julius Randle, the Lakers' first-round draft pick, had broken his right tibia on a driving layup through the Houston Rockets defense.
The Lakers not only lost the game, 108-90, but much, much more.
"It is heartbreaking, I saw the work he put in, his first game, he goes down," said Lakers Coach Byron Scott. "He was kind of crying, I told him to say strong."
Randle was wheeled away on a stretcher while the few remaining fans attempted to give him an ovation. It was hard to hear. It was hard to...
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