NBA notebook: Lakers PG Ball expected back Friday

[February 23, 2018]  The Los Angeles Lakers say they will officially firm up the status of point guard Lonzo Ball on Friday, but the Big Baller Brand is already spreading the word: Ball will return for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Big Baller Brand, run by Ball's father, LaVar, announced the news on its Twitter account on Thursday: "Zo returns from injury and will play for the Lakers tomorrow," the tweet read in part.

Ball has been sidelined since Jan. 13 due to a sprained MCL in his left knee. The rookie has missed the past 15 games.

The Lakers said Ball was a full participant in practice Thursday, and coach Luke Walton said the training staff will make the decision. It is expected that an official announcement will coincide with the team's Friday shootaround.

--Marcus Smart plans to play Friday for the first time since Jan. 23, when he was injured "swiping" a picture frame off the wall.

Smart practiced with the Boston Celtics and said he's ready to go Friday against the Detroit Pistons.

Smart, who missed 12 games, punched a picture frame on the wall in his Los Angeles hotel room, causing a deep laceration on right hand. Smart required stitches and needed several weeks to fully heal.

--Pain management is the issue for Kawhi Leonard, and San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is not expecting to see the star forward back on the court with the Spurs this season.

"I'd be surprised if he returns this season," Popovich said.

Leonard has been medically cleared to return from his right quad tendinopathy. However, Leonard decided he is not yet ready to get back on the court. Leonard reportedly spent 10 days in New York prior to the All-Star break consulting with a specialist for a second opinion on the injury.

"Well, we only have X number of games left in the season and he's still not ready to go," Popovich said.

 

--The NBA champion Golden State Warriors are not going to the White House while in Washington next week.

Instead, the team plans to visit local students after being disinvited by President Donald Trump last summer from the typical championship meet-and-greet with the sitting chief executive. Head coach Steve Kerr and point guard Steph Curry were critical of the president, and Curry said last year he hoped the team would make a statement by not attending a White House ceremony.

The Warriors face the Wizards on Feb. 28. That is the only scheduled regular-season trip to Washington for Golden State this season.

--The Washington Wizards intend to sign veteran point guard Ramon Sessions to a 10-day contract, multiple outlets reported.

The 31-year-old Sessions is being brought in to provide point guard depth with star John Wall (knee) out approximately three more weeks. Sessions averaged 3.7 points in 13 games for the New York Knicks earlier this season before being waived.

Sessions will be in his second tour of duty with the Wizards. He averaged 9.2 points and 3.0 assists in 110 games over parts of two seasons with the team between 2015 and 2016. Sessions has career averages of 10.4 points and 4.1 assists in 676 games over 11 seasons with eight teams.

--Field Level Media

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.