The defeat at the Portland Trail Blazers cost the Los Angeles Lakers twice as much: In the third quarter, Larry Nance suffered a left hand break.
An X-ray after the game revealed that Nance broke the second metacarpal bone in her left hand. How long it will be out of date is still unclear – Lakers coach Luke Walton announced that further tests on Friday should provide a little more information.
In the short term, however, the Lakers coach will probably have to look for a new starter on the fourth. The most likely candidate for this position is probably Julius Randle, who last served as the Lakers’ sixth man. Rookie Kyle Kuzma could also get a chance.
“I have no idea how long this is going to take,”Walton said.”If we have the information, we’ll look further. But I strongly believe that you don’t always have to use the next best player, but you also have to see how this affects the second unit and the starters when there is someone else. There are many variables, and we have to deal with them now.”
Nance started in all eight games so far, scoring 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds on average. The forward itself was not available to reporters after the match.