SAN ANTONIO -- Los Angeles Lakers rookie Josh Hart is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand on Friday, according to the team.
Hart, who suffered the injury on Wednesday in practice, had the surgery performed by Dr. Steven S. Shin. According to the team's timetable, Hart could potentially return as early as March 30 against Milwaukee.
At that point the Lakers would have eight games remaining in the season. Head coach Luke Walton said on Thursday that if Hart returns with "a couple of weeks left [in the season] then yeah we'll get him back on the court."
Hart is averaging 6.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 21.5 minutes per game this season. The 30th pick in the NBA draft has started 20 games and four of his six double-doubles have come in his past 10 games as a starter.
"He brings a lot to the team," said point guard Lonzo Ball, who cut Hart's steak for him at a Miami steakhouse when some players went to dinner the same day Hart injured his hand. "When he plays a lot of minutes, [he's] usually a double-double and he is a knock-down shooter. Got to fill in the shooting and defensive gaps for him."