Timofey Mozgov Injury: Updates on Lakers Center's Tailbone and Return

Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov suffered a tailbone injury on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. It's unclear when he'll return to the court. 

Continue for updates. 

---

Mozgov, Walton Comment on Playing Status

Wednesday, Oct. 19 

"You see I'm walking?" Mozgov said, per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. "I'm still alive. It's stiff a little bit right now, but it's OK."

Mozgov added he plans to play in the preseason finale against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. 

"He's good; just a tailbone," Lakers head coach Luke Walton said, per Medina. "But with preseason, we weren't going to put him back in."

---

Mozgov Out vs. Warriors

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times reported Mozgov bruised his tailbone and would be re-evaluated on Thursday. 

---

Mozgov Hoping to Return to Form After Rough 2015-16 Season 

After playing a significant role during the Cleveland Cavaliers' run to the NBA Finals during the 2014-15 season, Mozgov was relegated to a smaller role during the 2015-16 season.

Although he appeared in 76 games and started 48, Mozgov managed just 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. Those numbers dipped even more in the playoffs, when Mozgov averaged just 5.8 minutes per game during the team's title run. 

But despite suffering a statistical backslide, the bruising Russian big man was signed to a four-year, $64 million deal by the Purple and Gold to play the role of primary shot-blocker, rebounder and rim-runner. 

"From the beginning, it was a priority for us to get a big player," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said, per Medina for the Orange County Register. "I'm not going to tell you who the first, second or third or fourth (option) was. But clearly we were aggressive at the center position."

If Mozgov misses time, third-year center Tarik Black projects as the Lakers' stopgap solution at center for Walton.