Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball will be out at least one week after suffering a shoulder sprain in the second quarter of the team’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Ball’s injury means he will miss his first Christmas Day game as the Lakers host the Timberwolves on Monday.
An MRI on Lonzo Ball’s left shoulder revealed a “shoulder sprain,” per the Lakers. Ball will miss tomorrow’s game against Minnesota and be reevaluated in one week. He suffered the injury in the 2nd Q of Saturday’s game vs. Portland.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 24, 2017
Ball’s injury comes at a particularly tough time for the Lakers as they look to right the ship after suffering several heartbreaking losses.
The Lakers are already without starting center Brook Lopez due to a sprained ankle. Starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will also be out for two games this week as his 25-day jail sentence for a parole violation prevents him from leaving the state of California.
The Lakers will likely look to Jordan Clarkson to take over Ball’s point guard duties in his absence. The fourth-year pro had a much-improved start to the season but his play has regressed a bit in the last month.
Ball’s injury may also mean more playing time for two-way guard Alex Caruso who has started to see more playing time with the parent team in the midst of KCP’s inconsistent availability.
Rookie Josh Hart will likely continue to start in place of Caldwell-Pope in games that the latter is not available.
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