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Ingram Doubtful for Tuesday's Game

After playing in all of the Lakers' first 72 games of the season, it now appears that Brandon Ingram will miss back-to-back contests.

Ingram, who sat out Sunday's loss to Portland, is considered doubtful to play against Washington on Tuesday due to right patellar tendinitis.

The 19-year-old has shouldered a large workload for Los Angeles this year, leading the entire rookie class by playing 29.3 minutes per game.

“He was playing big minutes and practicing as hard, if not harder, than anyone else out there as far as running the sprints and where he was finishing and all that stuff,” Walton said at Monday's practice. “He was playing 40 minutes a night and showing up the next day and busting his tail at practice.

“For being a rookie, especially a young rookie, it was impressive he made it this far into the season. And still he’s not really injured. It’s just that we’re not in the playoffs, so it doesn’t make sense to push him through it, although he wants to play. It’s killing him not being out there right now.”

Ingram had been playing his best ball of the season prior to this injury, having scored double figures in 10 straight games.

The second-overall pick has averaged 14.8 points on 52.6 percent shooting during this run, putting him in consideration for Western Conference Rookie of the Month. But the team preferred to play it safe and keep him off the floor until the tendinitis is all cleared up.

“Brandon’s been playing through injuries and stuff like that, but it’s best for the team for him to kind of just get his body back together and finish the year out strong,” Jordan Clarkson said.

In the meantime, Walton has yet to decide who will start in Ingram's place on Tuesday.

Veteran Corey Brewer slid into that small forward slot in L.A.'s last game. And while Walton isn't sure if he will again, he has been pleased with the effect that Brewer has made on his teammates since being traded to the Lakers last month.

“He’s a champion at multiple levels and he’s a guy that plays extremely hard every single time he’s on the court,” Walton said. “… That’s a great example for some of our young guys to see. He did a fine job yesterday.”