LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers, rest against Los Angeles Clippers

"It's one of the things I still have to see and we have not had yet, that's what alignments look like when these two players play," Walton said. "I'm excited and hopeful, but again, we're going to take care of it day by day." In case of setbacks or whatever, we will not rush again, but I'll wait for it what Wednesday is happening. "

Ball is recovering from his left knee surgery due to out-of-season surgery. James had played about 15 minutes in the first half of those three games and had been offered the Clippers' game.

"We have not had a day since we started," Walton said. "I think it's been going on for 11-12 days with a double day in there, and it's been great, so it's more than fair, look, we have to be ready for the regular season. just that the regular season starts, we are at the forefront. "

James is likely to miss the pre-season final in San Jose on Friday against the Warriors, ESPN sources said, giving the 16-year-old veteran a week off without a match before the Lakers open the regular season on Oct. 18. on the road against Portland Trail Blazers.

Regarding Ball, the second-year leader was allowed to play and took part in four-on-four contact this week, but the team remains cautious in his reinstatement in training.

"He's close, he's close," says Walton. "And again, it's just that we're playing safety right now … so it was just the right thing to do, so it's getting really close."

Walton added that the Lakers would have a day off Sunday, so Ball could get treatment, followed by two days of training for the Warriors game.

"We had a good chance of leading him where we want him to go and it just seemed like we were not going to do it tonight," Walton said.

Walton said the Lakers would start Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and JaVale McGee against the Clippers.