After playing in just two games since his return from ankle surgery, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Trevor Ariza was placed into health and safety protocols on Thursday.
Ariza’s return had been a welcome sight to a Lakers team in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, as his high-level defense was needed for a team that had been mediocre all season. Instead, Ariza becomes yet another Lakers player to miss time due to the virus after scoring 15 points in his two games of action, both Los Angeles defeats.
Ariza, 36, has averaged 10.5 points with 4.8 rebounds over 18 NBA seasons with 10 different franchises. He is just starting his second stint with the Lakers.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Lakers still had Kent Bazemore, Austin Reaves, Malik Monk and Avery Bradley in protocols. Also in protocols for the past two games was head coach Frank Vogel.
Those absences are in addition to missing star forward Anthony Davis, who is expected to be out four weeks with a knee injury.
The Lakers are on a three-game losing streak, having dropped to 16-16 on the season in advance of a home game Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.
–Field Level Media