Results of an MRI on Andrew Bynum’s right knee showed a tear of the medial collateral ligament. He is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.
Bynum is the Lakers’ third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Prior to the game against Memphis had averaged 26.2 points on 65.3 percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds and 3.20 blocked shots over his previous five games.
“This is a team that went to the Finals last year that we put on the floor, so they’re confident in what they can do,” coach Phil Jackson said at the Lakers’ shootaround Monday afternoon, before they announced the severity of the injury. “We know we’re going to miss his presence, his rebounding ability. But this is a very capable team.”
“There are teams that lost in the Finals that go back and win the next year,” he said. “I think having Andrew in the lineup makes us a dominant team. With him out of the lineup, we’re still a great team. You put him in the mix, it takes us to another level.”