NBA: World Peace sidelined with left knee injury
In this March 3, 2013 file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Los Angeles. World Peace will have surgery Thursday, March 28, on a torn meniscus in his left knee and miss the next six weeks. The Lakers announced the timeline on Wednesday, March 27. AP
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace has suffered a left knee injury and a timetable for his return remains uncertain, according to the NBA club.
World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, suffered a torn lateral meniscus in the knee in a 109-103 loss Monday at Golden State and will miss the Lakers’ game on Wednesday at Minnesota so team doctor Steve Lombardo can examine him.
“I can’t wait to get back,” World Peace said on his Twitter page. “But our team is so good we will win and get into the playoffs.”
The 33-year-old veteran is averaging 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds a game over 70 appearances this season for the Lakers, who at 36-35 hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite losing their past three games.
Dallas and Utah are both 35-36 in the hunt for the last playoff berth with 11 games remaining. A likely first-round date with either San Antonio or Oklahoma City awaits the eighth seed in the West.
