The Los Angeles Lakers are about to embark on a four-game road trip starting on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder who they just narrowly beat on Tuesday at Staples Center. They will be without their starting point guard for at least those four games as Avery Bradley continues to sit out due to a hairline fracture in his leg. Bradley, who has been having a resurgent year with the Lakers, has been out the past three games; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been starting – and excelling – in his place.
Two other Lakers have developed recent injuries, as well, but the team expects them to be available on Friday.
Forward Kyle Kuzma, who missed the first four games of the year to injury, suffered an eye abrasion in the win over the Thunder. While Kuz was cleared to return to the game (despite his right eye being nearly swollen shut), head coach Frank Vogel opted not to play the third-year pro. Kuz, wearing protective goggles at practice on Thursday, told reporters that he tried to force his way into the game to no avail. Kuzma is expected to play on Friday with the eyewear.
Seeing the game through a new lens #KuzControl pic.twitter.com/vFKQcfzYXC
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 21, 2019
Kyle Kuzma says he tried to persuade the medical staff to clear him to return to the OKC game after he was scratched in the eye. “God gave me two eyes for a reason,” he says. He expects to play Friday.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 21, 2019
Meanwhile, guard Alex Caruso is nursing a calf strain but is probable to play on Friday. Caruso has steadily become a bigger part of the Lakers’ rotation as the season has gone along and looks to have cemented himself as an important part of the roster.
