LOS ANGELES — Michael Beasley rejoined the Lakers after being away most of the past four weeks for “personal reasons” and coach Luke Walton said he was to throw him into the fire against his former club, the Knicks, on Friday night at Staples Center.
Beasley’s mother died just prior to Christmas. He joined her in the weeks before her death from cancer and has missed the past 18 games. Beasley, who had a strong campaign with the Knicks last year before the team opted to use its mid-level exception on Mario Hezonja, signed with the Lakers in July.