The Lakers appear to have skirted a major injury scare as center Andrew Bynum left Sunday's game against the Warriors in the first quarter with only a moderate ankle sprain.
Bynum came down on Josh McRoberts' foot late in the first quarter and immediately limped off the court. With his part history of lower body injuries, this obviously was cause for concern. Via the O.C. Register, he had X-rays on the ankle which revealed it wasn't fractured. He's set to be re-evaluated Monday, when the Lakers have the day off before back-to-back games against New Jersey on Tuesday and the Clippers on Wednesday. Bynum will likely be a question mark for both of those.
According to ESPN LA, Bynum walked out of the arena on his own, although noticeably limping, but did not need crutches and refused to ride a golf cart to his car. He said he felt fine but wouldn't comment on the severity of the sprain.
"I think it's OK," Lakers coach Mike Brown said of Bynum's injury. "He was able to walk out, and I just saw him as he left. ... I don't think it's going to be long-term."
Bynum has played in every game he was able so far this season, as he had to serve a four-game suspension for his flagrant foul on J.J. Barea last postseason. He's having his best season and was named an All-Star starter for the West. He's run into some controversy recently because of an attempted 3-pointer and then saying he doesn't listen in on Mike Brown's huddles. But the fact remains that he's a major part of the Lakers' success and without him, their hopes of doing much of anything are dashed.
