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Lakers starting center Andrew Bynum sprained his right elbow on one of the final plays of L.A.’s 103-102 overtime victory in Houston.
Bynum, who finished the game with 17 points, 17 rebounds, a career-high tying five assists and three blocks, will be re-evaluated in the morning.
Good news for Lakers fans on Pau Gasol’s hamstring injury: He’s good to go.
Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed prior to L.A.’s Wednesday night contest in Houston that Gasol’s doctors in Spain agreed with the diagnosis of L.A.’s doctors and team athletic trainer Gary Vitti that the injury is healed.
Gasol has been cleared to resume basketball activities, which he commenced by running, jumping and shooting prior to the Rockets game. The All-Star forward is also expected to practice on Thursday, and if there’s no set back, he is cleared to play in games as soon as Phil Jackson thinks Gasol is ready to conditioning wise.
Phil Jackson said after Saturday’s practice that Pau Gasol would not play on Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.
It’s the third straight regular season game missed by the Spaniard, who strained his hamstring in the preseason.
After Thursday’s practice in El Segundo, we learned that Pau Gasol would miss his second consecutive game when the Mavericks come to town for a 7:30 PM tip at STAPLES Center.
Phil Jackson, however, remains unconcerned with Gasol’s hamstring strain and said that the team is simply being overly cautious to ensure that the Spanish big man is entirely comfortable when he returns.
“We’re not worried about it,” he said. “We’re just taking it real slow. Don’t you worry about it.”
Jackson also suggested that Gasol might be able to play in Sunday’s game against Atlanta.
But until Gasol plays, the very capable Lamar Odom (16 points and 13 rebounds in L.A.’s opening win) will slide into Pau’s spot in the rotation, and against Dallas be charged with defending Dirk Nowitzki, which Gasol did very well last season. Jackson added that having Ron Artest – who can also guard Nowitzki – on the roster makes it easier to be cautious with Gasol, since Artest is so versatile at both ends of the floor.
A quick injury note: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant missed Monday’s practice with a sore left foot, but is listed as “probable” on L.A.’s injury report.
Bryant is expected to start against the Clippers for L.A.’s 7:30 p.m. tipoff at STAPLES Center.
Prior to the second half in L.A.’s preseason finale against Denver in San Diego, Lakers forward Pau Gasol addressed the team’s beat writers outside the Lakers locker room to update his condition.
Here are the Spaniard’s more significant comments:
Q: On whether he’ll play in the opener:
Gasol: It’s not out of the question … I’ve just got to let it heal. Hamstring injuries are tough. If you don’t heal it right, it can become a long-term issue, and that’s something we don’t want to do at this time of year.
Q: On how it responded to Wednesday’s practice:
Gasol: It got a little worse, it got a little aggravated so we took a step backward. Now we’re just trying to let it heal so I can go back out there.
Lakers forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum will miss Thursday evening’s preseason game in Anaheim against Denver, though forward Luke Walton will dress and be a coaches’ decision to play.
Gasol, who strained his right hamstring earlier in training camp, will also miss Friday night’s game in San Diego and await re-evaluation early next week.
Jackson explained that his All-Star forward had some questions about how (the hamstring) felt after Wednesday’s practice, during which Gasol ran and went through some drills. The head coach said it might be more of a fatigue issue, but to “alleviate” Gasol’s response, the team felt it was best to keep him out of the final two preseason games as there was nothing to gain by playing him.
“I’m not worried,” said Phil Jackson. “Whether he makes it (for the season opener on Tuesday) or not I’m not worried.”
Bynum, who strained his rotator cuff and suffered a contusion of the left knee this week, will not play Thursday evening but will be re-evaluated on Friday morning. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Walton (back), meanwhile, practiced for the first time in over a week on Wednesday and will dress against the Nuggets, though his participation will be up to Phil Jackson.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum suffered a minor rotator cuff strain in Tuesday night’s 113-107 win over the Golden State Warriors. Bynum did not practice Wednesday due to the injury but is being listed as probable for Thursday’s game against the Denver Nuggets in Anaheim.
“My training staff hasn’t anticipated anything that would prohibit him from playing, but we’ll see what it’s like (Thursday),” said head coach Phil Jackson.
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Injured forwards Pau Gasol and Luke Walton both participated in Wednesday’s practice after missing the past couple games.
“I put them through practice today. We’ll see how they react to that tomorrow. They looked okay,” Jackson said.
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The Lakers carry a 5-1 record into the first of back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets. Tonight’s game is schedule for a 7pm tip from the Honda Center in Anaheim on KCAL/9 and TNT. Tickets available here.
After Monday’s practice at L.A.’s facility in El Segundo, Phil Jackson provided an injury update for his three players on the MASH list:
Lamar Odom: The small forward, who suffered a bruised shin against Sacramento on Thursday in Las Vegas, participated almost fully in practice and is probable for Tuesday night’s game in Ontario, CA, against Golden State. Odom confirmed that he was feeling better after a few days of ice and stim.
Pau Gasol: Gasol, who tweaked a hamstring and first missed practice on Tuesday, Oct. 13, was a limited participant in practice but is listed as doubtful to face the Warriors.
Luke Walton: Like Gasol, Walton first missed practice last Tuesday, and is also doubtful for the Ontario game.
The next chance for Gasol and Walton to play will be on Thursday in Anaheim when the Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets, though Jackson has said that team’s priority is getting each Lakers’ player ready for the Oct. 27 season opener.
Add Lamar Odom to the list of Lakers forwards that are nursing minor injuries as training camp hits the midway point.
Late in the first half Ron Artest and Sacramento’s Jon Brockman got tangled up under the basket, eventually kicking Odom in the shin as they fell to the floor.
Odom would briefly return to action in the second half before retiring to the locker room to get checked out by trainer Gary Vitti. He is officially being listed as day-to-day with a lower right leg contusion.
After the game Odom told Lakers.com’s Mike Trudell that while the shin was sore, he wasn’t overly worried about it.
FROM LAKERS.com
