Charlotte, NC. — Although he said the swelling in his left knee is “coming along,” Nick Young does not believe he will return until Sunday when the Lakers (16-41) host the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center.
“There’s still swelling in there,” said Young, whose absence for Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets (24-33) at Time Warner Cable Arena will mark his fourth consecutive game he missed. “They don’t want me to play on it or more swelling will come.”
Lakers coach Byron Scott highlighted the slim chance Young could play when the Lakers play on Wednesday in Miami. But both Scott and Young sounded skeptical because he has not completed any running drills. He has remained confined in the past week just receiving treatment.
“I would like to see him run and up and down the floor,” Scott said. “I don’t necessarily have to see him if my coaches go over to the gym early and say he looks good and he’s running up and down. That’s good enough for me. But I don’t think he’s up to that point yet.”
Scott said he felt more optimistic Young could return Friday in Memphis. Though the Lakers do not plan to practice in Memphis on Thursday, Young could still squeeze in a workout. But Young told Los Angeles Newspaper Group the most likely scenario involves returning on Sunday against Dallas.
“I haven’t run or nothing,” Young said. “I’ve been doing all the treatment and stuff. That’s it.”
Young has experienced plenty of frustration this month, averaging a season-low 9.9 points on 32.4 percent shooting through seven games in February. Young also averaged 13.2 points on a 32.2 percent clip through 13 games in January. Young reported his injury is unrelated to the displaced fractured in had his left knee last season, an injury that sidelined him for about two weeks.
“I was playing fine against the Celtics and having a good time. Then I woke up that morning and and the knee was swollen,” Young said. “They said it happened in the past year.”
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