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UCLA basketball: Bruins expect to have Joshua Smith but not Reeves Nelson on Tuesday

Los Angeles Times staff writer Ben Bolch
By Ben Bolch
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There was mixed injury news for UCLA on Monday.

Freshman center Joshua Smith (sprained right thumb) is expected to play in the Bruins’ final exhibition game Tuesday against Cal State Los Angeles, but sophomore forward Reeves Nelson (strained right hip flexor) is expected to be sidelined.

Smith, who injured the thumb in UCLA’s exhibition game against Westmont on Thursday, will wear a splint, with his thumb wrapped tightly.

‘We need to get him some experience before we open up Friday’ against Cal State Northridge, Bruins Coach Ben Howland said. Smith had nine points and four rebounds in only eight minutes.

Nelson said he did not feel his injury until he woke up the morning after the Westmont game. He had game highs in points (20) and rebounds (10).

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Nelson said he hoped to be able to return for the opener against Northridge.

-- Ben Bolch

Sports Now
Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

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