Josh Hart leaves Lakers’ trip after breaking left hand in practice

Lakers rookie Josh Hart returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday after breaking his left hand during practice.

Hart had X-rays in Miami that confirmed a fracture on his fourth metacarpal, the bone that starts in the hand and extends into the ring finger.

The Lakers’ team doctors will evaluate Hart’s injury in California and determine whether he needs surgery.

Hart was the 30th pick in June’s draft after spending four years at Villanova. He has played in 55 of the Lakers’ 60 games this season, starting in 20. He’s averaged 21.5 minutes, 6.6 point and 3.7 rebounds with five double-doubles.

Hart is naturally a shooting guard, but as the Lakers shifted around lineups while Lonzo Ball was out with a sprained knee, their best starting group involved playing Hart at small forward. Once Hart became a steady starter for the Lakers, they went 7-3.

TONIGHT

AT MIAMI

When: 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

On the air: TV: Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes. Radio: 710, 1330

Update: Ball will still be on a minutes restriction, but the number will rise from the 25 minutes he played in Atlanta. “I’m feeling good,” Ball said. “Every day’s getting better and just happy to be on the court.” He will still come off the bench. ... The Heat are coming off a one-point win over the 76ers. An emotional Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, including 15 of the Heat’s last 17. Wade said he was inspired by the memory of Joaquin Oliver, a student who was killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., and was buried in Wade’s jersey.

tania.ganguli@latimes.com

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