Lonzo Ball has missed four straight games due to a sore left knee, and the Los Angeles Lakers are probably going to be without their point guard for a while.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk notes Luke Walton said Ball will travel with the club throughout the upcoming five-game road trip, but the head coach isn’t optimistic about the rookie returning in that time.
“[Ball and the training staff] did more yesterday than the day before, and he says he feels good today but he is still out. … I don’t expect him back [anytime soon].”
It’s assuredly been a frustrating season for Ball, who put together his best six-game stretch in mid-December before missing time with a shoulder sprain.
After sitting out six contests — and the team dropped all six — Ball returned and played decently well in a 4-1 spurt for the Lakers. However, the knee injury occurred in overtime against the Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles is 2-2 since then.
The Lakers host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday before embarking on the five-game journey away from Staples Center. Not having Ball against the Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder in particular will be problematic for Los Angeles.
Walton said the Lakers won’t rush Ball onto the floor, but they’re certainly eager to have him available again.