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Lakers News: Kyle Kuzma misses practice but feeling better

By Kenneth Teape

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 22, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 22, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers News: Kyle Kuzma missed practice Thursday and underwent a precautionary MRI, but is feeling better.

Recent Los Angeles Lakers news is pretty positive. Rookie forward Kyle Kuzma was surprisingly inactive for Wednesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

Kuzma played in the Lakers previous game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. He precariously played only 20 minutes off the bench. Despite the limited minutes, he still scored an efficient 15 points. However, head coach Luke Walton was not pleased with the defensive effort the team put forth against the Clippers.

The defense played by Kuzma was part of the reason that he played only 20 minutes. Could an injury have played a part in Kuzma’s lackluster defensive effort?

Kuzma ended up missing the game against the Warriors because of back spasms. It was an injury that came out of nowhere, as it was not mentioned after Monday night’s game or Tuesday.

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According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, Kuzma tweaked his back shooting during pre-game warm-ups.

Even without their leading scorer, the Lakers have the Warriors everything they could handle. Brandon Ingram scored a career-high 32 points. Lonzo Ball held his own against Stephen Curry with 15 points and 10 assists. Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson picked up the slack in the second unit with Kuzma sidelined, scoring 20 and 21 points respectively.

With the brutal stretch of games, the Lakers are heading into, they will need all hands on deck. Getting their leading scorer back in the lineup would be nice, and there seems to be cautious optimism that he will be back sooner than later.

Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times shared that Kuzma went in for an MRI, but was feeling much better today. The MRI was a precaution according to Ganguli.

Serena Winters of Lakers Nation and Spectrum SportsNet reported but of the same, also adding that Kuzma did not practice today.

Hopefully, the MRI comes back clean and doesn’t show any damage. The Lakers cannot afford to lose Kuzma for an extended amount of time, especially given the strength of the Lakers schedule over the next 11 games.

Next: 3 Lakers Takeaways vs Warriors

Kuzma will have a few more days to get healthy as the Lakers do not play until Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are also battling injury problems, as All-Star power forward Paul Millsap is sidelined with a wrist injury.

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