The Los Angeles Lakers will be without a key contributor for a portion of their late-season push to the playoffs. The team announced Monday that guard Josh Hart will be sidelined through the All-Star break and perhaps beyond:
Josh Hart will have his right knee re-evaluated after the #NBA All-Star break, according to #Lakers PR.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) February 11, 2019
Hart received a PRP injection in his balky right knee.
Hart missed two of his team's last three games while managing right knee tendinitis, playing just eight minutes in the Lakers' stunning last-second win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. He was first sidelined for last Tuesday's embarrassing loss to the Indiana Pacers, and he was again unavailable during Sunday's defeat to the new-look Philadelphia 76ers.
Considered a crucial part of LA's rotation this season after a dominant performance at Las Vegas Summer League, Hart has struggled to live up to those increased expectations. He's shooting just 33.9 percent from beyond the arc overall and 34.5 percent on catch-and-shoot triples, while for the most part being unable to show off his improved playmaking ability due to the Lakers' abundance of quality ball handlers. Hart also hasn't been the defensive plus many anticipated, struggling to stay in front of quick opposing guards.
Los Angeles will miss him regardless, though it remains to be seen how big a role Hart stands to play going forward – even if fully healthy – considering the deadline acquisition of Reggie Bullock.
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