Rookie free agents help Lakers win

You must be a hard-core Lakers fan if you’ve heard of Ben McCauley or David Monds. Both rookie free agents came up big in the Lakers’ 85-84 win over Toronto at Cox Pavilion in the marquee game on Day One of the NBA Summer League.

McCauley, a 6-foot-8-inch forward from North Carolina State, scored 24 points, including the game-winner — a 23-footer with 14.5 seconds left — along with 15 rebounds. Monds, a 6-8 forward from Oklahoma State, had 17 points off the bench.

“I wasn’t shy about shooting it,” McCauley said. “If I have the open shot, I’m going to take it.”

As for Adam Morrison, he played well, also finishing with 24 points along with five rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes. The 33 minutes is the important number as Morrison tries to get his game back in shape.

“It felt good, no problems,” Morrison said. “I’m just trying to get comfortable with the (triangle) offense.”

The Lakers play again at 3 p.m. Saturday against Cleveland.

SPOON SIGHTING

Former UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour was on hand for Day One, watching his longtime friend Kelvin Sampson coach the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer league squad. But he won’t be in town long. He’s heading back to St. Louis for Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.