LOS ANGELES — Lakers wing Cam Reddish has been cleared to begin an on-court progression and ramp-up with the hope of returning to the court after the All-Star break, the team announced ahead of Friday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Friday was the ninth consecutive game Reddish has been out of the lineup because of a sprained right ankle that he suffered during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ Jan. 23 loss to the Clippers.
Reddish played just two games before suffering the ankle injury after missing three consecutive games because of left knee effusion (swelling).
The fifth-year wing has been one of several Lakers who has been in and out of the lineup with injuries this season, playing in 35 of the team’s 54 games.
“Anytime you get healthy bodies back, it’s great news,” Coach Darvin Ham said. “Just his on-ball defending, his point-of-attack defense, his length, his ability to play make off the dribble, catch-and-shoot (3-pointers), size, the way he chases down 50-50 balls, comes up with offensive rebounds. His great feet, great hands at that size, it definitely makes an impact when you have it in your lineup.”
Reddish will miss at least the next two games before the break – Tuesday’s home game against the Detroit Pistons and Wednesday’s road game against the Utah Jazz.
He’s averaging 6.7 points (40.5% shooting, 33.7% from 3-point range), 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his 35 games, including 26 starts.
Reddish leads the team in deflections per 36 minutes with 3.4.
Starting guard D’Angelo Russell was back in the lineup after being sidelined for Thursday’s 114-106 home loss to the Denver Nuggets because of left knee soreness.
Second-year guard Max Christie wasn’t available against the Pelicans after suffering a sprained right ankle during the second quarter of the loss to the Nuggets.
Ham said Christie had an MRI on his right ankle and the team is waiting for the results, adding that Christie (who turns 21 on Saturday) was going to get looked at by team doctors Friday night.
“He’s 12 years old,” Ham quipped, “so hopefully he heals fast.”
With the Lakers without Reddish and Christie, two-way guard Skylar Mays was in the first-half rotation after playing seven second-half minutes the previous night against the Nuggets.
“Skylar’s a kid that’s played real NBA minutes up in Portland,” Ham said. “Played really well against us earlier in the year. He’s not afraid of the moment, he’s not afraid to compete, not afraid to go out there and make plays no matter who is out on the floor with him. He showed that [Thursday] night in big moments. We have all the faith in the world in him. That’s why he’s here.”
