Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Bold predictions for season opener

1. Brandon Ingram sinks buzzer-beating 3 for the win

All preseason long, Brandon Ingram has been doing his best to be the Lakers’ go-to guy on offense. Suffice it to say, things haven’t gone as planned. Still, the sophomore heads into the season opener with a long leash and a goal of being the team’s top scoring threat.

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Ingram figures to take plenty of shots on Thursday against the Clippers. During his five preseason appearances, he averaged just over 10 shots per game and was relatively ineffective in the process. While that may have been the case, the Lakers don’t appear to have lost faith in the 2016 second overall selection.

So essentially, until he proves he can’t handle significant usage, Ingram is going to shoot the ball early and often. That could include during clutch situations.

With that in mind, I’m predicting that this one comes down to the wire. With the Lakers down by two in the waning seconds, Ball finds Ingram in the corner for an open three. After a night of inconsistent results from the field, the lanky forward sinks it, handing the purple and gold an upset victory to start the season.

Next: Realistic predictions for Lakers' 2017-18 season

Is Ingram ready to handle the Kobe Bryant role? Not at all. Nailing this game-winner against the Lakers’ crosstown rivals will certainly help him build the confidence needed to unlock his true potential, though.