EL SEGUNDO – Barring a setback, Lonzo Ball will be back on the court Friday night at Staples Center against Charlotte after missing the previous six games with a left shoulder sprain.
“I expect to play,” Ball said, following the Lakers morning shoot around at their practice facility.
Coach Luke Walton said: “If we stay on schedule, he should play tonight.”
The second overall pick averaged 10 points, 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds through his first 31 games, and the Lakers record stood at 11-20. Since then, the wheels have come off, with the Lakers losing six straight without Ball – eight overall – including a 37-point humiliation against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Ball will be expected to reverse that tide against the Hornets, whom the Lakers beat 110-99 on Dec. 9.
“Pressure’s been on me since I’ve been here,” Ball said, “so I’m looking at it the way same.”
The Lakers offense has stagnated without Ball, and his absence has been felt on the defensive end, as well. Still, Ball declined to identify one area where he thought he would have the greatest impact in his return.
“Whenever I come back,” he said, “I’m going to try to go out for that game and see what I bring to the table. But I just think we’ve got to keep fighting.”