The banged-up Los Angeles Lakers looked to end their five-game losing streak Friday night against the Indiana Pacers, who entered with a two-game winning streak and winners in seven of their past eight games.
The Lakers once again were without Luol Deng as he missed a second consecutive game due to a sprained right wrist. Then in the first quarter, D’Angelo Russell slipped on Julius Randle’s foot, banged his right knee against the court, and was diagnosed with an MCL sprain.
The Lakers’ injury woes continued in the second quarter, as Nick Young lost his footing and hyperextended his left knee, according to Mike Trudell:
Nick Young hyperextended his left knee. X-Rays were negative. It’s possible he returns in the second half depending how the knee feels.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 21, 2017
Young finished the first half with six points, all of which came on consecutive 3-pointers. He returned to action at the start of the third quarter. Young previously missed six games this season after suffering an Achilles strain on Nov. 29 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Young entered Friday averaging 13.7 points per game and shooting a career-best 42 percent from behind the arc. The 31-year-old has flourished under Lakers head coach Luke Walton’s system and went through a nine-game stretch where he connected on at least five 3-pointers in seven contests.
In positive injury news for the Lakers, Larry Nance Jr. is expected to go through a complete practice on Saturday, then play Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks in the opener of a three-game road trip.