Lakers happy with Ivica Zubac's growth in increased role: The tone in Luke Walton’s voice still sounded agitated. After all, the Lakers’ coach had raised his voice and offered an undisclosed message yet again to his players about their lack of effort. One development, though, helped soften Walton’s frustration involving the Lakers’ 129-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Pepsi Center. Lakers rookie center Ivica Zubac posted career-highs in points (25) and rebounds (11) in his third career start. -- The Orange County Register

Rockets' Daryl Morey believes Lakers' Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka are 'well prepared' for success: Much has been made of the lack of front-office experience in the Lakers’ overhauled basketball operations department, but at least one rival NBA general manager believes Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have what it takes to steer the franchise back into contention. Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has known one of the two men for years but only recently met the other. -- The Orange County Register

Ivica Zubac finds himself in the (teen) Lakers' record book: On an otherwise dreary Monday night for the Lakers, hope came from their 19-year-old center. Ivica Zubac scored a career high 25 points and added 11 rebounds, becoming the first teenager in Lakers franchise history with at least 25 points and at least 10 rebounds in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. -- Los Angeles Times