Nick Young ejected in Lakers-Suns game

PHOENIX — The Lakers lost another player, and for once it doesn’t involve an injury.

Nick Young was ejected with 7:33 left in the second quarter of the Lakers’ game Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns here at U.S. Airways Center after being assessed for a punching foul as part of a near scuffle between the two teams. Phoenix forward Alex Len earned a flagrant 2 foul and subsequent ejection for delivering a hard foul on Young that knocked him to the floor as he drove for a layup.

Young, who normally boasts a friendly and laidback demeanor, immediately stormed from the floor. After shoving Len, Suns forward Marcus Morris earned a technical for shoving Young. Then Suns guard Goran Dragic entered the fray before Young hit him in the head.

Once the officials made the ruling, Young removed his Lakers jersey before exiting the player’s tunnel. He has become one of the team’s lone bright spots in an otherwise dreary season and finished the game with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.

But Young’s ejection came at a time when the Lakers have lost 11 of their past 12 games, while nursing longterm injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve issues in back), Steve Blake (hyperextened right elbow), Jordan Farmar (torn left hamstring) and Xavier Henry (bone bruise in right knee).

It’s possible Young could earn an NBA-imposed suspension that could sideline him when the Lakers play Friday in Boston.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com