Lakers' Larry Nance Jr. (knee) cleared to play in limited minutes Sunday

ByBaxter Holmes ESPN logo
Saturday, January 21, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. has been cleared to practice and to play in limited minutes Sunday at Dallas after missing the past 16 games with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Nance suffered the injury Dec. 20 at Charlotte and has been sidelined ever since.

The second-year forward out of Wyoming has been a key reserve for the Lakers, averaging 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.4 minutes over 28 games. He's shooting 58.4 percent from the field and has recorded a pair of double-doubles.

Nance's status update came after he was examined prior to the Lakers' Friday tilt against the Indiana Pacers by team physician Dr. David McAllister of UCLA Health.

Lakers forward Luol Deng missed his second straight game with a sprained right wrist but told reporters before Friday's game that an MRI on his wrist came back negative and that he hoped to practice Saturday and play Sunday at Dallas.

ESPN's Jovan Buha contributed to this report.