Lakers C Gasol likely out Sunday

Mar 15, 2008 - 5:11 PM RIVERSIDE, California (Ticker) -- It appears unlikely that Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will be able to take the court Sunday when the team visits the Houston Rockets.

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.

X-rays were negative and the 7-footer is scheduled to have an MRI on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury.

Even if the MRI shows no serious damage, Gasol is likely to miss Sunday's much-anticipated game against the Rockets, who have won 21 straight and are tied with the Lakers (45-20) atop the Western Conference.

"I would be ecstatic if he only missed the next three (games)," Lakers' coach Phil Jackson told the Riverside Press-Enterprise, when asked if Gasol would miss the next week. "Well, maybe not ecstatic. But, you know, happy (that he wasn't out a significant period of time)."

The Lakers are 15-4 since acquiring Gasol from Memphis on February 1.

The Spaniard is averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 57 games with the Grizzlies and Lakers, who have used Gasol to fill the void left by injured center Andrew Bynum.

Gasol, who was on crutches and in a walking boot after the game, sprained the same ankle while playing for the Grizzlies and said he thinks that kept him out a week or two.

Ronny Turiaf played center in place of Gasol on Friday and finished with one point and six rebounds. The 6-10, 250-pounder is expected to start at center if Gasol unavailable.

"Obviously, our offense will change a lot, being that we don't have that inside presence," Lakers captain Kobe Bryant told the Press-Enterprise. "We've got to do a lot of things off the move so teams can't sit in and lock in on what we're trying to do offensively."