The Los Angeles Lakers will play on Christmas for the 19th consecutive year Monday, facing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center without rookie guard Lonzo Ball.
Ball suffered a shoulder sprain in his left shoulder during the second quarter of Saturday’s 95-92 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, an MRI done Sunday determined, the team announced. Ball will miss Monday’s game and will be re-evaluated in one week.
Ball is the only Laker to have started all 31 games this season.
The Lakers have played on Christmas 43 times, second-most in NBA history, behind the New York Knicks, who have played on Christmas 51 times. The Lakers and Knicks have both won 22 times on Christmas. The Lakers are 22-21 on Christmas, while the Knicks, who will play host to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, are 22-29.
The last time the Lakers didn’t play on Christmas was in 1998 when the owners lockout of the players delayed the start of the season until February.
The Lakers have lost six of their past eight Christmas Day games, but were 111-102 winners over the Los Angeles Clippers last year.
Minnesota will be playing its second Christmas Day game. It lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 112-100, last year
—City News Service