Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. is undergoing surgery Friday to repair his fractured hand and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.
OFFICIAL: @Larrydn22 expected to miss 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair a fractured 2nd metacarpal on his left hand. https://t.co/ImwUBC1UxX
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 4, 2017
The high-flying Laker suffered a broken left hand during Thursday night’s game at Portland. Per the Lakers, the injury is a fracture of the second metacarpal on his left hand.
Correction from the Lakers re: Larry Nance, Jr.: “X-rays were positive for fracture of the 2nd metacarpal – left hand.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 3, 2017
The 24-year-old appeared to injury himself while contesting Caleb Swanigan at the rim. After committing a foul, Nance Jr. immediately grabbed his left hand and was promptly subbed out of the game.
Nance Jr. exited the game with seven points, five rebounds and one block in 19 minutes of play.
Lakers coach Luke Walton did not say who will start in Nance’s place, though Julius Randle and Kyle Kuzma are the likely candidates.
Walton did maintain that he expects a group effort will be needed to substitute Nance’s production.
“I obviously feel so terrible for him,” Walton said. “He’s been playing so solid for us. It’s unfortunate it’s going to hurt the team. He’s been working so hard.”
Entering last night, the third-year forward was averaging career highs in points (11.1), rebounds (7.9) and steals (1.6) while ranking seventh in the league in field goal percentage (60.4).
