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Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Hart has great game in return from injury

Kenneth Teape|
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Josh Hart #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers got Josh Hart back in the lineup on Friday and he picked up right where he left off when he was injured.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks. When one player gets healthy, it seems that another one goes down with an injury.

Brandon Ingram returned to the lineup on March 28th against the Dallas Mavericks after being injured on March 1st. Lonzo Ball then suffered a knee injury, and Isaiah Thomas was sidelined because of his troubling right hip. Thomas’ season came to an end this week as he opted to undergo surgery, which will sideline him at least four months.

While the Lakers‘ backcourt suffered two more injuries, they got another player back into the fold against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Shooting guard Josh Hart returned after a 14 game absence. Hart suffered a fracture to his left hand on Feb. 26 against the Atlanta Hawks.

Hart’s return couldn’t come at a better time for Los Angeles. In addition to the Ball and Thomas injuries, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was ejected against the Bucks. Caldwell-Pope played only 16 minutes because of the ejection. As a result, Hart had to play heavy minutes right away.

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Luke Walton wasted no time getting Hart back into the rotation. He led the Lakers’ guards with 35 minutes played off the bench. Hart picked up right where he left off prior to his injury.

Hart registered his seventh double-double of the season against the Bucks. He scored 13 points, going 5-of-10 from the field, and pulled down 13 rebounds. The 13 rebounds led Los Angeles against the Bucks and trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo,

It was a strong return to the lineup for Hart, and one the Lakers will need the remainder of the season. With Thomas out for the final seven games and Ball’s status up in the air, Hart will be asked to play a lot of minutes to finish out the season.

Without Thomas and Ball, the Lakers do not have many playmaking options on the roster. Brandon Ingram is the defacto point guard in the starting lineup. Tyler Ennis gets some run off the bench, but he played only 15 minutes against the Bucks. It is tough to imagine he will be playing much more than that, especially when Caldwell-Pope isn’t being ejected.

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With how shorthanded the Lakers are in the backcourt, Hart could see opportunities running the offense. It is something that he did periodically in college at Villanova, so he is capable of it. It is just another one of the skills that the well-rounded Hart will be able to showcase the rest of the season.

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