The hits keep on coming for the upstart Los Angeles Lakers as Nick Young suffered what would be later called an Achilles’ tendon strain barely two minutes into the game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Swaggy P, who is in the midst of a surprising bounce back season, went up to challenge a layup by Pelicans guard Tim Frazier and came down in obvious pain while clutching his right leg. He had to be carried off the court by his teammates. Lakers reporter Mike Trudell later reported that Nick Young suffered a right Achilles’ tendon strain and will undergo an MRI when the team flies to Chicago Wednesday.
Nick Young has a right Achilles' tendon strain. He’s out for tonight’s game and will undergo an MRI tomorrow in Chicago.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 30, 2016
Nick Young had been a big part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ surprising start to the season. He went from nearly being waived to become a starter averaging 14.1 points, while shooting 41.8 percent from three point range. Nick Young has also emerged as one of the team’s best perimeter defenders, often taking on the opposing team’s toughest perimeter players. The non-contact injury did not look good, as it was reminiscent of the Kobe Bryant Achilles injury that left the Laker legend a shell of his former self.
The Los Angeles Lakers were already playing without starting point guard D’Angelo Russell – who is expected to be out at least a couple more weeks after undergoing platelet-rich plasma injection on his sore left knee – and Nick Young’s absence would be a huge blow to an otherwise inspiring season for the rebuilding team.
Julius Randle, along with Nick Young, returned to action against the Pelicans after missing previous games, and entered the game looking to go over .500. Instead, they lost a starter to a potentially serious injury and went on to lose 105-88 to the surging Pelicans. The Los Angeles Lakers now drop to 9-10 for the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
