Pau Gasol out injured against Clippers
by Sam Smith
Posted on Nov 17
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Pau Gasol said he suffered a mystery calf strain Saturday in the game with the Indiana Pacers, thus forcing him to miss Monday’s game with the Clippers. Gasol said he hopes to play Thursday in Sacramento.
“Happened during the last game,” said Gasol before the game as he again was greeted by numerous Los Angeles media on his first return to where he won two titles with the Lakers. “Maybe I got kicked or something. I just didn’t realize. But I felt my calf was getting sorer and sorer. I was able to finish the game off. Today I tried (at) shoot around to see if it would allow me to continue to go. But it was a little aggravated after shoot around. So, right now I just don’t want to reaggravate it by playing tonight and hopefully with this next couple of days of not having games I’ll be able to be back soon.”
Gasol said he was saddened not to play back in Los Angeles. Gasol is averaging 18.6 points, second to Jimmy Butler, and a team best 10.6 rebounds per game and among the league leaders in blocks at 2.5 per game. It is the first game he is missing this season. He had his poorest game against Indiana shooting four of 15 for 12 points and six rebounds.
“I wanted to play this game badly,” he admitted. “I was hoping tonight was a possibility. Got to be smart about it and not force the issue at this point. We have a very demanding road trip, so hopefully Sacramento I’ll be ready.
“It’s a strain,” Gasol added. “I was getting sore and getting tight (during Saturday’s game). I was able to finish the game, limited but finished (Gasol was just one of two from the field in the second half). But it didn’t recover quickly.
“I have pretty big calves,” Gasol joked, “so I don’t understand. It’s one of the strong parts of my body. It’s just weird. I was hoping I just got kicked and it was a contusion and I could play through that soreness. (But) the whole muscle is pretty cramped up, so I just have to let it calm down. Like I said, my mindset was to try to go tonight. That’s why I went through shoot around. Warm up and kind of (have it) calm down. But it was more sore after shoot around. So there was no way I would play tonight and force it and strain it more.”
Gasol joined Rose in a suit on the bench as Rose is out with a hamstring injury.
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