Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won’t play in Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns with a left quad contusion, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.
Caldwell-Pope initially went down in the third quarter of Game 3 when his left leg bucked while trying to avoid fouling Devin Booker.
The Lakers gave an update on Caldwell-Pope Saturday after an MRI, saying there wasn’t any significant damage and he’d be day-to-day moving forward.
With Caldwell-Pope, head coach Frank Vogel expressed confidence in Wesley Matthews moving up to the starting lineup.
Matthews stepped up after Caldwell-Pope left Game 3, knocking down two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to build Los Angeles’ double-digit lead.
Caldwell-Pope got shots up pre-game to test out his leg, via Brad Turner of the L.A. Times:
AD and KCP working out pic.twitter.com/PCTiYBy7Wg
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) May 30, 2021
L.A. will miss Caldwell-Pope’s stellar defense on Booker, but Matthews, the 34-year-old veteran, can also step up to the challenge in a pivotal game.
