After four consecutive losses, the Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to bounce back on Friday playing host to the visiting Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center. Unfortunately, the team will continue to be shorthanded with numerous injuries including center Tarik Black who is dealing with an ankle sprain.
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Black went down with the ankle injury in the loss to the Utah Jazz last Sunday. The third-year center missed Wednesday’s game against his former team in the Houston Rockets and has already been ruled out for Friday’s matchup with the Suns, according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Lakers injury update for tomorrow's game vs. Phoenix:
OUT: Tarik (moderate ankle sprain), Calderon (hamstring), DLo (knee), Nick (calf).
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 8, 2016
Following a season in which he didn’t see much action under then-head coach Byron Scott, Black has earned a significant role in the team’s talented bench.
Luke Walton has utilized Black’s strengths this season making him a solid contributor to arguably one of the best second units in the NBA. Black’s presence off the bench has been and will continue to be missed.
As Winters pointed out, the Lakers will also be without Nick Young, Jose Calderon, and D’Angelo Russell for Friday’s game. Although the Suns are struggling at 6-16 coming into this game, Earl Watson’s team will look to exploit the void left by the injured players.