Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Kyle Kuzma expected to play Friday

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve forward Kyle Kuzma, who is trending toward playing Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There haven’t been many Los Angeles Lakers rumors in recent weeks. With the team virtually unable to make any trades until Dec. 15, the player movement front will be quiet for a few more weeks. However, there are still some Lakers rumors involving players on the team.

Los Angeles has been unable to avoid the injury bug this season. Even before the regular season began, the team has dealt with some injuries.

DeMarcus Cousins was injured in August working out. Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo started the season on the shelf. When Kuzma and Rondo were working their way back into the rotation, Avery Bradley went down with a hairline fracture in his leg. Anthony Davis has been dealing with a shoulder and rib ailment.

Despite not having a consistent rotation yet this season, the Lakers are 12-2, not only sitting atop the Western Conference but the NBA as a whole. However, the team looks like they will be getting closer to full health Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to the Lakers’ official Twitter account, Kuzma should return to the court for the rematch against the Thunder.

Additional testing revealed that Kuzma suffered a right eye abrasion when he was poked in the eye during Tuesday’s game against the Thunder. He was expected to practice on Thursday and be ready to go on Friday.

Kuzma was forced from Tuesday’s game after being poked in the eye as he was cut and bleeding. He came back to the bench, but his eye was swollen.

Despite the swelling, Kuzma did push to get back into the game according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

To help avoid any more potential issues, Kuzma was wearing a pair of glasses during practice on Thursday. Kuzma, one of the more fashionable players in the NBA, probably loves having another accessory to wear during the game to be noticed by.

Kuzma isn’t the only Laker currently dealing with some injuries. In addition to Bradley, the team could be without Alex Caruso.

Caruso was held out of the contact portion of Thursday’s practice according to Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet. It was a precautionary move and they are hoping he can suit up Friday night as well.

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