The injury news continues to get worse for the Los Angeles Lakers when Pau Gasol went down with a right foot injury in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's win against the Brooklyn Nets. Gasol strained his plantar fascia, an injury he has been dealing with throughout much of the season. Gasol left the Barclays Center on crutches and is worried about what the injury could mean.
With 4 minutes remaining in the game, the Lakers trailed Brooklyn 77-76. Gasol attempted to block a shot by center Brook Lopez and fell down immediately when landing. Gasol headed to the locker room and did not return. He said he felt something pop in his foot after that play.
"I was dealing with it, but that play when I tried to jump off of it and try go block the shot, just as I took off, I felt a pop in the bottom of my foot on my fascia and I couldn't get up. I'm worried about it," Gasol said.
Gasol finished the night with 15 points on 6 for 16 shootings, with four rebounds and two assists. The Lakers were short-handed in the win with Metta World Peace serving a one game suspension and Dwight Howard missing another game with a shoulder injury. The injury bug has not been kind to the team lately. Kobe Bryant recognizes the team is in a tough spot right now with potentially two of the team's best players out with injury.
"I'm very, very concerned about it. Obviously, we don't know the extent or the severity of the injury yet. But I'm very, very concerned to say the least," Bryant said.
Trade rumors had been swirling around Gasol after suggesting that the Lakers could deal him this offseason. With this recent injury, a trade may no longer be possible at the moment. Gasol had missed 13 games this season with knee tendonitis and a concussion. With reserve center Jordan Hill out for the season after hip surgery, the Lakers cannot afford to have Gasol out for an extended period of time. He will undergo an MRI on Wednesday when the team travels to Boston.
