LA Lakers Starting Center Mozgov Suffers Facial Injuries; Tarik Black Will Take Over Lakers Center Position With Rookie Zubac

During last Tuesday's game against the Indiana Pacers, LA Lakers starting center Timofey Mozgov has been hit twice in the face. The LA Lakers center Mozgov was initially inadvertently hit by Jeff Teague in the mouth with only 9:44 left in the third period of the game.

Despite the earlier injuries suffered, Lakers center Mozgov returned with a remaining time of 3:59 in the same quarter. Unfortunately, Mozgov received yet another strike to the already injured face. But this time, the hit was straight to his left eye. A decision was made to remove the Lakers center Mozgov from the game where he was rushed to the locker room.

Clutch Points reported that LA Lakers center Mozgov received four stitches in order to close the cut on his lip. The damage to his left eye is another story. Mozgov's left eye was nearly shut due to swelling.

Fans of the 7-foot-1 Russian NBA player took to Twitter and expressed their thoughts and concern as regards the incident. On one hand, LA Lakers coach Luke Walton gave a statement that Mozgov's swollen face looked as if he had been in a "heavyweight fight."

According to ESPN, La Lakers center Mozgov had a CT scan Wednesday morning to determine whether the player had suffered an orbital fracture after receiving an elbow to the left eye. In addition to the series of unfortunate events for the Lakers, the team lost to the Pacers with a score of 115-108 during last Tuesday’s game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. But before the center Mozgov was pulled out of the game due to his injuries, he finished with 6 points and 5 rebounds in more or less 19 minutes.

With an upcoming match against the Atlanta Hawks and considering the LA Lakers center’s conditions, LA Lakers reporter Mike Trudell announced on Twitter that Mozgov will not play Wednesday night.

Instead, Tarik Black will take over the minutes at the center position with rookie player Ivica Zubac.