For the Los Angeles Lakers and many of their fans, the situation revolving around rising star rookie point guard Lonzo Ball's knee injury has become quite frustrating over the last month. Not only will he miss his 14th straight game tomorrow night against the New Orleans Pelicans, but Lakers head coach Luke Walton said that Ball experienced some soreness and discomfort in his knee.
According to ClutchPoints' own Ryan Ward and Spectrum SportsNet reporter Mike Trudell, Ball will be held out for the rest of the week as the team continues to ease him back from a sprained MCL he suffered in January against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers have a back-to-back on the road before the NBA All-Star Break starting tomorrow for Valentine's Day versus the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, followed by another tough contest on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
“We’re not gonna play him tomorrow,” coach Walton said after Tuesday’s practice. “With the back-to-back and a week off after that, the progress is great but it just doesn’t make sense to risk it right now.”
Unfortunately, Trudell also wrote in his article on NBA.com that Ball will be held out as a precaution through the entire All-Star Break, meaning he will not be able to participate in any of the weekend's festivities at Staples Center.
“There was some contact, which is the first time he’s really done that,” Walton said. “It wasn’t up-and-down, full-court scrimmaging, but it was half-court defensive drills with guys getting after it. He looked good, but there’s still a little bit of discomfort.”
The Lakers, who currently have a 23-32 record on the season, have been playing very well lately and have won 12 of their last 17 games.
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