Getty Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball
As the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to dig themselves out of a hole in the crowded Western Conference playoff race, an update on Lonzo Ball’s ankle injury looms. Since the second-year guard was hurt back on January 19 against the Houston Rockets, he’s missed 13 games. Ball will also be sidelined for Wednesday’s date with the New Orleans Pelicans, a game the Lakers (29-31) need to win for their playoff outlook.
But it seemed on the surface that a positive update had come the afternoon ahead of the game against Anthony Davis and company. As Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times reported, Ball is set to be re-evaluated on Thursday after originally being diagnosed with a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
The fact a date is set for Ball to be re-evaluated is good, but the news that came prior to that is less than ideal. There’s obvious concern that whatever news comes Thursday could point an even longer absence for the 21-year-old.
Lonzo Ball Diagnosed With Bone Bruise Also
Less than one week ago, Ganguli and the Los Angeles Times also dropped the report that Ball was dealing with a bone bruise which would push his recovery back. The original timeline was set at four-to-six weeks, and this news was said to potentially push things beyond the six-week mark.
Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball has been dealing with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle that the team believes could extend his recovery past six weeks, according to two people familiar with Ball’s condition.
This Saturday marks six weeks on the dot from the time Ball suffered the injury. If the bone bruise extends it beyond that timeline, it would put the Lakers down the final stretch of the season. After Saturday’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns, the team has just 19 games left. The question would then become how far beyond that date Ball would remain sidelined.
Lonzo Ball’s Possible Return Date & Outlook
Unfortunately, attempting to peg a date or game to circle for when Ball could return is a tall task. Even Lakers coach Luke Walton has made it known that there’s no timeline set and barring a huge flip of the script during Thursday’s re-evaluation, it’s unrealistic to expect an extremely quick return.
Even if a best-case scenario is Ball being out for another week beyond Saturday, that would mean he’d miss at least three games next week. Each of those games are tough draws with obvious playoff implications, and the first comes against the Los Angeles Clippers, who the Lakers are battling for a playoff spot with. Beyond that game, they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, March 6 and finally the Boston Celtics next Saturday.
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