Lakers lose Ball 4-6 weeks to injury

Lonzo Ball will miss four to six weeks after an MRI showed he has a Grade 3 sprain to his left ankle, the Los Angeles Lakers said Sunday.

The sprain includes a torn ligament, like Rajon Rondo had in his right ring finger last month. Unlike Rondo, Ball will not need surgery.

Ball turned his ankle in the third quarter of Saturday night’s loss to Houston after colliding with the Rockets’ James Ennis. He writhed on the floor in extreme pain, before being carried off the court.

Because the X-ray machines weren’t working at the Toyota Center, Ball was transported to a nearby hospital where his X-rays showed no fractures. An MRI on Sunday revealed the extent of the injury.

This timetable will keep Ball out until after the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 15.

Heat

Dwyane Wade’s last dance went back to college. The Miami guard who has dubbed his 16th and final NBA season “One Last Dance” was the guest of honor at Marquette’s game against Providence. Wade starred for the Golden Eagles during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. He led Marquette to the Final Four in his last year of college before he jumped to the NBA. It was part of a weekend celebration for Wade, who played for the final time in his hometown of Chicago on Saturday night.

Bucks

Milwaukee is retiring four-time All-Star Marques Johnson’s No. 8 jersey. Johnson’s number will be retired in a halftime ceremony March 24. The former UCLA star played 524 career games with Milwaukee over seven seasons, from 1977-84. He will become the ninth Bucks player to have his number retired.

Pacers

Victor Oladipo scored 21 points and Darren Collison added 19 points and nine assists Sunday, leading Indiana past Charlotte, 120-95. Indiana improved to 16 games over .500 for the first time since the end of 2013-14. Nate McMillan earned his 121st victory as a Pacers coach, tying Jim O’Brien for ninth on the franchise’s victories list.