Hart breaks hand in practice
MIAMI — Lakers rookie Josh Hart returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday after breaking his left hand during practice.
Hart had X-rays in Miami that confirmed a fracture on his fourth metacarpal, the bone that starts in the hand and extends into the ring finger.
The Lakers’ team doctors will evaluate Hart’s injury in California and determine whether he needs surgery.
Hart was the 30th pick in June’s draft after spending four years at Villanova. He has played in 55 of the Lakers’ 60 games this season, starting in 20. He’s averaged 21.5 minutes, 6.6 point and 3.7 rebounds with five doubledoubles.
Hart is naturally a shooting guard, but as the Lakers shifted around lineups while Lonzo Ball was out with a sprained knee, their best starting group involved playing Hart at small forward. Once Hart became a steady starter for the Lakers, they went 7-3.
Brewer leaves Hart wasn’t the only member of the Lakers leaving their four-game trip early. Veteran Corey Brewer agreed to a buyout Wednesday and flew back to Los Angeles to await his next step.
“I loved my time with the Lakers,” Brewer said by phone as he boarded his flight. “I love all the guys. Lot of good teammates. They’re a great young team, they’re going to be good.
“I can still play. But hey, I did what I had to do. I helped the guys as much as I could. I didn’t mind being a mentor. There’s a lot of good guys. When you can still play you want to be in a situation where you’re playing.”
Brewer said he hopes to land with a playoff team after clearing waivers.
Brewer has been with the Lakers since last February when the Lakers acquired him and a first-round pick from the Houston Rockets for Lou Williams. He took on a mentoring role with the team, as one of the few veteran voices for most of that time.
Coach Luke Walton called Brewer the “ultimate professional” for how he reacted to his diminishing playing time.
“He’s one of those guys that’s not afraid to be brutally honest with you,” Walton said. “I think that’s good for our young guys.”
Brewer, who turns 32 next week, played in all 24 games he was with the Lakers last season and the Lakers’ first 40 games this season. Since then, there have been six games in which Brewer did not play.
“I just want to play basketball,” Brewer said by phone as he boarded his flight. “Now I have an opportunity to play. Maybe help a playoff team make a run.”
TONIGHT
AT MIAMI When: 4:30 On the air: TV: Spectrum Sports Net, Spectrum Deportes. Radio: 710, 1330 Update: Ball will still be on a minutes restriction, but the number will rise from the 25 minutes he played in Atlanta. “I’m feeling good,” Ball said. “Every day’s getting better and just happy to be on the court.” He will still come off the bench . ... The Heat are coming off a onepoint win over the 76ers. An emotional Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, including 15 of the Heat’s last 17. Wade said he was inspired by the memory of Joaquin Oliver, a student who was killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., and was buried in Wade’s jersey.