Nick Young sidelined 2-4 weeks with strained calf

Los Angeles Lakers starting guard Nick Young will miss two to four weeks with a strained right calf muscle, the team announced Wednesday in advance of the Lakers' 96-90 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Young, 31, suffered the injury during the loss Tuesday to the New Orleans Pelicanswhen he tried to defend a fast-break layup byTim Frazier. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday in Chicago.

"Can't catch a break, especially with the run we're on, it's a crucial time for us," Young said. "We've been going up and down, trying to stay in the playoff race, and do all the things we want to do. It's tough."

There was some concern that Young had a more serious Achilles injury, but the MRI revealed the calf issue.

"That's what I feel more better about, that it ain't the worst, and it's something I can come back from quicker than sitting out a whole year," Young said.

Young is averaging 13.3 points for the Lakers and has been one of the team's biggest surprises after two tumultuous seasons under ex-Lakers head coach Byron Scott.

Young recently told ESPN that he believed only a few months ago that the Lakers were intent on parting ways with him. But Young emerged in training camp as one of the team's best perimeter defenders and a reliable scorer, and Lakers coach Luke Walton started him on opening night.

"He's been playing great, such a huge part of what we've done so far," Walton said. "Obviously, it's a big blow to our team and what we're trying to do, but that's part of life in the NBA. So we'll figure it out and keep going forward."

In addition to Young, the Lakers already were without point guard D'Angelo Russell, who has missed six straight gameswith a sore left knee.

"It's coming along," Walton said of Russell's injury. "He did some non-weight-bearing underwater treadmill the other day in New Orleans and says his knee feels good. But again, it's nothing we're going to rush."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.