“Los Angeles Lakers’ Jordan Hill smiles before the Lakers’ NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)”
NEW YORK — Lakers forward Jordan Hill lasted just over seven minutes on Sunday against New York before straining his right quad muscle.
Hill walked gingerly to the locker room favoring the area around his right hip and groin after posting two points and five rebounds. The Lakers will evaluate him on Monday.
The Lakers (13-34) have become plagued with injuries all season, most notably season-ending ailments to Kobe Bryant (right shoulder), Steve Nash (back), Julius Randle (right leg) and Xavier Henry (left Achilles tendon.
Nick Young received clearance to play on Sunday against New York after sitting out the past two games because of a sprained right ankle. But Lakers coach Byron Scott said it is unlikely Young will play until he completes a full practice. Scott offered the same analysis on backup center Tarik Black after recently nursing a sprained right ankle. But he might play considering Hill’s absence.
Hill has averaged 12.8 points on 47.7 percent shooting and 8.1 rebounds in 28.4 minutes all as a starter, mostly at center. In the past five games, Hill has since shifted to power forward, while Robert Sacre has started at center.
RELATED:
Ex-Laker Derek Fisher weathering growing pains as Knicks’ coach
New York’s Derek Fisher, Carmelo Anthony confident about Kobe Bryant’s return
Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com