The Los Angeles Lakers may be without arguably their most consistent player on Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Second-year guard Jordan Clarkson is dealing with an ankle issue that may keep him sidelined back in his hometown.
Clarkson tweaked his right ankle in the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday and has been limping around ever since. Clarkson suffered the injury when stepping on the foot of Andrew Wiggins leaving his playing status for Friday up in the air.
According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, head coach Byron Scott is monitoring Clarkson heading up to tipoff with the 23-year-old potentially being forced to sit out in San Antonio:
Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson kept moving around the court, shooting shots as if he would play in a game soon. But coach Byron Scott considered it a “50-50” chance Clarkson will play when the Lakers (3-19) play the San Antonio Spurs (18-5) on Friday at AT&T Center after nursing a mild sprain in his right ankle.
Clarkson has played in all 22 games for the Lakers this season while being one of the team’s most product offensive players. Kobe Bryant (15.9 ppg) is currently the team’s leading scorer with Clarkson not far behind the five-time NBA champion at 15.2.
The 23-year-old is also one of the most efficient players on the Lakes this season shooting 47 percent from the floor and 41.1 beyond the three-point line. If Clarkson is ultimately unable to play in San Antonio, Los Angeles will struggle to find someone to fill up the stat sheet in his place. Rookie D’Angelo Russell could find himself back in the starting lineup if Clarkson is ruled out on Friday night.
The Lakers hope to end a four-game skid on Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back in Texas. Following the matchup against the Spurs, Clarkson and company will face the Houston Rockets on Saturday, which will be the final game of this long eight-game road trip.