Lakers C Gasol hurts ankle in loss

Mar 15, 2008 - 6:01 AM NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol left Friday's 108-98 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return.

Gasol, who was acquired from Memphis on February 1, was forced to leave just 2:33 into the contest.

X-rays were negative and Lakers head athletic trainer, Gary Vitti, said Gasol is undergoing treatment on the ankle. Whether or not he travels for Sunday's road game against the streaking Houston Rockets will depend on how the ankle responds.

The Lakers (45-20) are currently tied with the Rockets (45-20), who have won 21 straight games en route to the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.

Ronny Turiaf played center in place of Gasol and finished with one point and six rebounds. He will likely start at center again if Gasol is out.

The Lakers are 15-4 since trading for the Spaniard, who has made up for the loss of center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury.

"We just have to figure out what we're going to do to get back into the attack zone," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Gasol's injury.

"We're going to play a small lineup which we did (Friday), and try and make things happen like we had happen in the first half."

The 7-foot Gasol is averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 57 games with the Grizzlies and Lakers.

Gasol's arrival in Los Angeles has helped make the Lakers the favorite to come out of the ultra-competitive Western Conference.