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Lonzo Ball is questionable for Friday’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks after a “precautionary” MRI revealed a left knee contusion, according to Los Angeles Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell. Ball left Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks and did not return.
The MRI on Lonzo Ball confirmed that it was a left knee contusion, and he’s day-to-day. Official listing is “questionable” for Milwaukee on Friday. Ball thought he was fine postgame and didn’t practice today prior to getting the MRI. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow morning.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 29, 2018
Ball has missed 22 games for the Lakers this season, including 15 consecutive games at the start of the year because of an MCL sprain on the same left knee. However, Ball assured reporters after the game on Wednesday that he didn’t re-aggravate the injury.
“It wasn’t in the spot that I was previously hurt that caused me to miss a lot of games, so I wasn’t too worried about it,” Ball said. “It’s kind of just like a bruise. It hurts, but I should be back soon.”
Ball, since returning from injury, is averaging 10.1 points, 7.6 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. His hot shooting that we saw in first few games coming back from the All-Star is all but gone, but his defense and playmaking is still crucial to the Lakers’ success.
With Isaiah Thomas ruled out for the rest of the season after deciding to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum, the Lakers can’t afford any more injured point guards.
All quotes were provided via Spectrum SportsNet.