Rookie Ryan Kelly to start for Lakers against Raptors

TORONTO — Rookie forward Ryan Kelly will start for the Lakers on Sunday, taking the place of Jordan Hill, against the Toronto Raptors.

Kelly scored a career-high 20 points Friday in the Lakers’ 107-104 victory over Boston. He made four of six shots from three-point range.

“He’s going to give us toughness and smarts and move the ball and hopefully he’ll make open shots,� Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni said Saturday. “I just think we’re a better team when we can spread the floor. It’s better for Wes [Johnson], he has better games when we can spread the floor. It’s better for Pau [Gasol] when we can spread the floor. It’s better for Kendall [Marshall]. So that’s one of the things we’d like to do.�

Hill is the team’s top offensive rebounder, though.

“We don’t rebound anyway. We can’t get any worse,� D’Antoni said sarcastically. “We’ve got to have guys a little bit more active. That’s what Ryan does. Ryan will clear out space, he’ll block out when he needs too. He’s a smart basketball player so I think we’ll rebound better.�

The Lakers (15-25) are tied for 16th in the NBA at 43.1 rebounds a game.

Kelly was their second-round draft pick last year, taken 48th overall. Sunday will mark his first career start.

“Obviously, this is what I wanted,� he said. “This is what I worked towards. It’s still very early in the season and I have a long way to go. We have a long way to go.�

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