Mahinmi needed stitches yet again

27 seconds into Monday’s game agains the Lakers, Ian Mahinmi went down. Lakers guard Lou Williams’ right forearm connected with the middle of Mahinmi’s face as he elevated for a jumper. It was a miss — the jumper — but he squarely hit Mahinmi causing a stoppage in play.

Mahinmi was down for a few moments and there was lots of blood on the floor that had to be cleaned up.

Mahinmi’s look Monday night against the Lakers. [Photo via FSI]

The Pacers’ starting center then spent the rest of the quarter in the locker room getting eight stitches, and then he checked in to begin the second period.

“I haven’t really seen it open,” he said. “I went straight into the locker room to get the stitches and by the time I was done, they had already out the bandages over it.”

It’s vertical and then tails off to his left.

Credit him for returning to the game, playing 27 minutes and finishing with 11 points and five rebounds.  Roy Hibbert, meanwhile, was in a suit coat at the end of the Lakers’ bench springing to hit feet often despite what was ruled a sprained left ankle. It was his first game missed this season.

It’s been one thing after another for Mahinmi, who’s having his best season as a pro. Last week, he opened up to me about how difficult this year has been for him. “It’s been a little bit of a tough year as far as injuries [for me],” he said.

This isn’t the first this season Mahinmi has needed stitches during a game. Back on Jan. 13 at Boston, he got five stitches above his left eye.

So far this season, the Frenchman has chipped a tooth two times, gotten stitched up twice, and dealt with a sore left knee, sore left heel, sprained left ankle, and still — a sore lower back.

“Every time something happens to me, she always is crying,” he said of his wife, Alexis. She don’t like for me to get her. I know when she saw the blood on TV, she was crying.”

Mahinmi is a good sport about it, but he certainly wish his luck would improve.