Scott Mourns Mom, Lakers Switch Lineups

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Head Coach Byron Scott for two games, as he attends his late mother's funeral service

Before hopping a 2 p.m. flight to Oklahoma City for Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers met for practice on Monday morning.

Lakers coach Byron Scott led the session, but he will not be travelling with the team to Oklahoma City for family reasons. Scott recently lost his mother, and the coach will stay behind to attend his late mother's funeral service.

"Anyone who has been as close as I was with my mom, has lost a mom, they understand what I'm going through," a softer sounding Scott said after Monday's practice. "It's just a very difficult time for myself and my family."

Scott admitted that working with the team had helped take his mind off the loss, but he could not help but think about his mother when he had time to himself.

"(I'm) just trying to stay busy and not think about it as much as possible, which is impossible," Scott said before trying to be positive about the passing. "She's in a much better place, and she's not in pain anymore."

While Scott stays back home for a couple extra days, the Los Angeles Lakers will travel to Oklahoma City and then to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. After that, Scott expects to re-join the team for Friday's game in Toronto. Assistant Paul Pressey will lead the team, and Scott said he did not hesitate in temporarily handing his post over to Pressey. 

However, before the Lakers embarked on their five-game road trip, which is the longest of the season, Scott decreed a few changes to the starting lineup. Jeremy Lin will start alongside Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt, which means the Lakers will play without a true point guard off the bench. Wayne Ellington will make way for Lin and move into the reserve unit. Lin scored 29 points, which was the player's season-high, in Sunday night's win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Along with Lin, Ryan Kelly will return to the starting lineup and play as a power forward. Wesley Johnson and Tarik Black will retain their positions in the starting five.

The Lakers and Thunder get the ball rolling at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday.

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