Lakers News: Larry Nance, Jr. out 4 weeks with bone bruise on left knee

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Larry Nance, Jr. for approximately four weeks as he nurses a bone bruise on his left knee, the team announced Sunday. Nance, Jr. suffered the injury during the Lakers’ game against the Charlotte Hornets, immediately asking to be taken out of the game after tweaking his knee.

X-rays came back negative, and the team went on to announce he would be out indefinitely due to a bone bruise following MRI results. He was re-examined by team doctors prior to the Lakers’ Christmas Day game against the LA Clippers and the bone bruise was confirmed with swelling down five days after the injury occurred. The new timetable isn’t great, but a four-week timetable is better than an indefinite one. That Nance, Jr. won’t need surgery on his left knee is another bright side to the latest bump to sideline a Laker.

Thomas Robinson will likely continue seeing extending playing time in Nance, Jr.’s absence, while Julius Randle will have to hold the power forward fort down for the next month. Robinson is averaging 11.5 rebounds and 18.8 minutes per game in the two games since Nance, Jr.’s injury.

The Lakers’ bench has been one of the team’s brightest points through the season, making the absence of Leaping Larry for the next month a tough blow for the Lakers. It could always be worse, but losing Nance, Jr. isn’t ideal while the team flounders after a tough December.