The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Friday night against the Indiana Pacers.
The injury bug has hit the Los Angeles Lakers hard. They are going to very shorthanded in the backcourt against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The starting backcourt duo of Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be sidelined Friday night. Ball is dealing with a sore knee suffered last weekend against the Dallas Mavericks. Caldwell-Pope injured his Achilles in Wednesday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This will be the third consecutive game that Ball misses because of the sore knee. This will be the seventh game that Caldwell-Pope misses this season, but the first because of injury. The first six games he missed were because of a suspension and jail sentence.
The Lakers announced their starting backcourt out via their Twitter account. In addition to Ball and Caldwell-Pope, the status of Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma were both updated as well.
Lonzo Ball (sore left ankle) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right Achilles tendon strain) are OUT for Friday's matchup with Indiana.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 18, 2018
Brandon Ingram (mild left ankle sprain) and Kyle Kuzma (left hand fifth MP joint sprain) are listed as questionable.
Ingram suffered his ankle injury against the Mavericks as well. He missed Monday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies but did suit up against the Thunder. Ingram is probably closer to probable than questionable.
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Kuzma was injured in the game against the Thunder. He was forced from the game in the second half and was unable to return. If there is any doubt to his health, it would not be a surprise if he sat out. There is no reason to push a rookie unless he is 100 percent ready to go.
For Ball, this will be the ninth game that he misses. The Lakers have been dreadful when he is off the court, losing all eight of the previous games. Without Ball, the Lakers will have their hands full against a Pacers team with Victor Oladipo in the backcourt.
WIth Ball and Caldwell-Pope announced out, Tyler Ennis and Josh Hart will more than likely slide into the starting lineup. If Ingram is also sidelined, Corey Brewer could find his way into the starting five.
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Luke Walton is going to be limited in what he can do in the backcourt. Alex Caruso and Gary Payton II could both see some minutes, especially if Ennis is playing poorly again. Like the games thus far this week, and whenever Ball is out, things could ugly quick for Los Angeles.