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Lakers closing out trip against Bucks without key part of backcourt
Quentin Grimes missed the Lakers’ road game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a sprained finger on his shooting hand, leaving the team without a key backcourt player for a second consecutive game. The injury came during Sunday’s win over Detroit; the Lakers said they were being cautious because swelling affected his shooting hand.
Grimes had scored 12 points against the Pistons, including 10 in the first quarter, after starting in place of Luka Dončić. X-rays were negative, and he was averaging eight points in 26.1 minutes this season after signing a four-year, $60 million deal in July. Austin Reaves returned after missing Monday’s game with an illness, while new two-way centre Carson Cooper joined the team in Milwaukee.
In short
- Grimes missed a second straight game with a sprained shooting-hand finger.
- X-rays were negative, but swelling kept him out against Milwaukee.
- Austin Reaves returned after sitting out with an illness.
Explained simply
The Los Angeles Lakers are an NBA team in the Western Conference, while the Milwaukee Bucks play in the Eastern Conference. Teams play a long regular season before the playoffs, and road trips bring several away games together, making squad availability an ongoing concern.
Quentin Grimes is a guard, a role that involves handling the ball and creating scoring chances from the backcourt. He joined the Lakers in July on a four-year contract, and his minutes and scoring give him a part in the team’s rotation. Austin Reaves is another Lakers guard, and Luka Dončić is one of the team’s leading players.
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments around a joint; a finger injury can affect a player’s grip and shooting. Teams weigh the need for a player against the risk of aggravating an injury, particularly when it affects his shooting hand.