Lakers Get More Good News: X-Rays on Thompson’s Injured Knee Negative

X-rays of Billy Thompson’s hyperextended left knee were negative Thursday, but the Lakers’ rookie forward is not expected to practice with the team today.

Thompson suffered the injury when he was knocked to the floor by Denver rookie Maurice Martin while attempting a breakaway dunk in the Lakers’ 140-103 win over the Nuggets Wednesday night.

Thompson averaged 12 minutes in the first two games of the playoff series, but played just three minutes before being injured Wednesday. During the regular season, Thompson--the ninth man in Coach Pat Riley’s rotation--averaged 12.9 minutes, 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds a game.

The Lakers will work out today while awaiting word of their second-round opponent in the Western Conference playoffs. The Lakers will meet the winner of the Golden State-Utah series, which the Jazz leads, 2 games to 1 with Game 4 to be played tonight in Oakland.