Lakers' Ball out 4-6 weeks with left ankle sprain

Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after an MRI revealed he suffered a Grade 3 left ankle sprain in Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets, the team announced.

The 21-year-old had to be carried off the court by his teammates after colliding with Rockets forward James Ennis in the third quarter.

Ball is averaging 9.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in his second season, but has increased his production with Lakers superstar LeBron James out of the lineup with a groin injury. Since James' most recent appearance on Dec. 25, Ball has put up 12.5 points and 7.2 assists in 13 outings.

The Lakers boast a 25-22 record, but occupy the ninth-seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. For the sake of their playoff aspirations, the team will hope to see James return to the fold in the near future. The four-time MVP has been cleared to return to practice this coming week, though the exact date of return to the Lakers' lineup has yet to be announced.