The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with a numerous amount of injuries this season, particularly in the backcourt as both starting guards D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young have missed time due to injury, as well as veteran point guard Jose Calderon.
Only four players on the team have played in all 38 games so far, and that’s veterans Luol Deng and Lou Williams, rookie Brandon Ingram, and Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson, in particular, has stepped up in a big way while other players have been out, as he ranks second on the team at 27.7 minutes per game and has both started and come off the bench throughout the course of the season.
It appears Clarkson is a little banged up too though, as he suffered an elbow contusion in Tuesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
According to Mark Medina of the LA Daily News, Clarkson is listed as probable for Thursday night’s game against the Portland Trailblazers:
Jordan Clarkson has a right elbow contusion, but he's listed as probable to play tonight
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 5, 2017
Clarkson is in the midst of the most efficient season of his three-year career, as he is averaging 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 44.5 percent shooting and 34 percent from three-point range.
He has been unselfish in accepting a role off the bench after starting all 79 games he played last season. Him and Williams have combined to be the highest scoring bench duo in the league, which has helped the Lakers average a league-leading 49.1 bench points per game.
The probable tag for Thursday night’s game likely means that Clarkson will be ready to go against a Portland team that has struggled in recent weeks.
