The Los Angeles Lakers have won four straight games, with the team being set to try and prolong the winning streak with another road trip coming. The first game of that road trip will be tonight against the Orlando Magic, as head coach Frank Vogel will be visiting the site of his last stop as a head coach before joining the Lakers this offseason.
It was announced yesterday that the Lakers would be welcoming back Avery Bradley back into the rotation, seemingly putting the Lakers back at full strength although Bradley would be on limited minutes. However, it appears that the Lakers will be bringing one player back while losing another, as it was announced by the team that Kyle Kuzma will be missing the game due to a left ankle sprain he sustained this past Friday against the Washington Wizards.
Kyle Kuzma is out tonight in Orlando due to soreness and discomfort from the left ankle sprain that happened vs. Washington (11/29). The medical staff is holding him out to promote healing; he’ll be day-to-day moving forward.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 11, 2019
As Mike Trudell of the Lakers and Spectrum SportsNet points out, he is being held out “to promote healing” which assumedly means the injury isn’t that serious. However, it is the same foot/ankle that caused him to miss the beginning of the season, so it’s definitely at least somewhat noteworthy. Take a look at the play below that caused the injury. It definitely looks painful.
pic.twitter.com/CU1jDYyZ9L https://t.co/h81rhFBd9J
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) December 11, 2019
In addition to the Kyle Kuzma injury news for the Lakers, the team also announced that Rajon Rondo remains questionable for the game against the Magic with his strained hamstring.
Kyle Kuzma is out for tonight. He’s been experiencing some soreness with the ankle he injured two weeks ago and the medical staff decided to keep him out. Rondo is still questionable.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) December 11, 2019
The Lakers will definitely receive a hit to their rotation if Kuzma and Rondo both have to sit. It’s shocking to say this, but the team will possibly miss their three-point shooting, as Kuzma and Rondo are currently averaging 36.0% and 52.8%, respectively.
