Mild knee sprain could force Ball to sit out against Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Lakers survived a serious scare Sunday with prized rookie point guard Lonzo Ball.
After waking up with a sore left knee the morning after Saturday’s win in Dallas, Ball underwent an MRI exam.
The test, though, revealed only a minor sprain.
He’s questionable for Monday’s game against the Grizzlies.
Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists this season.
He played 43 minutes Saturday in the Lakers’ 107-101 overtime win in Dallas.
Ball recently returned from a sixgame absence after recovering from a sprained left shoulder.
Since his return, the Lakers have gone 4-1 with the wins all coming in a row.
Roster moves
The team plans to sign Gary Payton II to a two-way contract in addition to calling up rookie Alex Caruso from the team’s G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, to help at point guard.
Payton, the son of NBA Hall of Famer and former Laker Gary Payton, played 18 games with the Milwaukee Bucks over two seasons before being waived. Caruso has averaged 8.7 minutes in 11 games this season.
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Second-year forward Brandon Ingram is also questionable for Monday’s game because of an ankle injury.
Ingram sprained his left ankle in the first half of the win against the Mavericks. TODAY AT MEMPHIS When: 2:30 p.m. PST On the air: TV: TNT, Spectrum Sportsnet, Spectrum Deportes; Radio: 710, 1330. Update: The Lakers have a seasonbest four-game winning streak but could be without Ball and Ingram. Memphis scored only 78 points in its most recent game, a loss Friday.