NEW ORLEANS — The Lakers appear as if they’ll be playing without Pau Gasol for awhile after he sprained his left ankle in the opening minutes of the game. He appeared to get tangled up with Hornets Tyson Chandler and Morris Peterson while Kobe Bryant was taking and making a jump shot. Gasol left the game with 9:27 left in the first quarter.
Gasol was putting almost no pressure on his left foot as he was helped off the court by DJ Mbenga and Sasha Vujacic. X-rays taken immediately after the injury showed no broken bones, but Gasol isn’t returning to the game.
