Brown to be out another 4-6 weeks

Center Kwame Brown will be sidelined another four to six weeks after seeking a second opinion from a foot doctor Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Specialist Dave Porter confirmed the Lakers’ earlier diagnosis of a severely sprained left ankle and a bone bruise, and gave Brown a timetable to return next month, sources said.

Brown, averaging 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, has been out since landing awkwardly after blocking the shot of Philadelphia guard Andre Miller on Dec. 31. He has sat out 18 games.

The Lakers declined to provide a timetable when Brown was injured, but severe ankle sprains typically take four to six weeks to heal. Brown has tried to come back recently and has felt discomfort when he jumps.

He dunked a ball in practice in Indiana last week but left the court in pain.

Brown’s extended absence has meant more time for Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf.

“We just have to make do and fight our way through this time,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “We know we could use his effort out there. Right now, we’re thankful it’s given ‘Drew an opportunity to learn some more, play a little bit more.”

In cases similar to Brown’s, the bone bruise typically takes longer to heal than the sprain itself.

Brown had taken part in light workouts two weeks ago and hoped to return midway through the team’s current eight-game trip. The Lakers are 3-2 on the trip, which concludes Sunday in Cleveland.

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Lakers guard-forward Maurice Evans returns to face the team he asked to leave last summer.

Evans was acquired from the Detroit Pistons in a draft-day deal after his agent requested a trade because of a dip in Evans’ playing time in the playoffs. Evans averaged only 3.3 points and 6.3 minutes in the playoffs, about half his regular-season averages.

“I’m looking forward to going back and showing my improvement,” Evans said. “I’m hoping to go in there and play really well and beat those guys.”

Evans has averaged 7.7 points and 21.8 minutes this season. He was acquired for the rights to Cheick Samb, a Senegalese center drafted 51st overall by the Lakers.

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Jackson was more than irritated after the Lakers’ 97-83 loss to the Pistons at Staples Center in November.

Lamar Odom was ejected for picking up two technical fouls, Kobe Bryant had two points going into the fourth quarter, and the Lakers struggled against the Pistons’ zone defense

“That was probably the worst performance I’ve ever seen a Laker team play in their building,” Jackson said. “They’ve had some stinkers on the road, but it was a poor performance.”

Bryant finished with 19 points, but by then the game was well out of reach.

TONIGHT

at Detroit, 5, Ch. 9, TNT

Site -- The Palace.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 30-19; Pistons 29-18.

Record vs. Pistons -- 0-1.

Update -- The Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have gone 8-3 since signing Chris Webber, who is averaging 12.5 points and seven rebounds for them. The Lakers are 0-7 in their last seven games in Detroit. They haven’t won at the Palace since January 2002.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com