Jeremy Lin and Ryan Kelly will join the Lakers’ (18-50) starting lineup when they start a five-game road trip Tuesday in Oklahoma City against the Thunder (40-30).

According to Coach Byron Scott, Lin will join rookie Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt with Wayne Ellington moving to the bench.

“I’m going to change the lineup. As a matter of fact, I’m going to start Jeremy and J.C. together. They don’t even know it yet,” said Scott. “Ryan will be at the four.”

Kelly, who has played most of the season out of position at small forward, will displace Jordan Hill, starting alongside Tarik Black and Wesley Johnson.


Lin is coming off his best game of the season, a 29-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers (17-53).

“That was something I had planned on doing,” said Scott, who had long hinted that Lin would eventually get back into the starting group. “It had nothing to do with last night, but last night made it a little bit easier to throw him in there, because he played so well.”

Scott said he’ll stagger his rotation so that at least Lin or Clarkson is on the floor for the entire game.

“I think we’ll be able to help each other,” Lin said of Clarkson. “I don’t necessarily always see it as you’re the point guard, I’m the shooting guard. ... It’s a tandem.”


Scott will miss the next two games after the death of his mother. Assistant Paul Pressey will run the team in the interim.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.