Pao Gasol out with a sprained ankle

LOS ANGELES, March 15 (UPI) -- A badly sprained left ankle will keep Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol out of at least three games.

The 7-footer was acquired Feb. 1 from Memphis in a trade for fellow center Kwame Brown.

He suffered the injury in Friday's 108-98 loss to New Orleans after stepping on the foot of teammate Vladimir Radmanovic while both were battling for an offensive rebound.

He was helped off the court and, after the contest, was on crutches and in a walking boot.

Team doctors said X-rays were negative, but the sprain was severe enough that Gasol, who averages 19.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, will miss at least three games.

"I enjoy playing basketball. I don't enjoy watching," Gasol told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm not a watcher. I want to be back as soon as I can."

His absence includes a matchup at Houston Sunday, when the Lakers try to end the Rockets' 21-game winning streak.