Worthy Opens Season on Injured List

The Lakers reached the 12-man roster limit Thursday by putting James Worthy on the injured list and, in a surprise move, cutting rookie point guard Trevor Ruffin.

Worthy sat out the final three exhibition games and several practices after returning to North Carolina for his mother’s funeral, and the Lakers did not think he would be in basketball shape to open the season. When the announcement was made, however, they said the veteran small forward would sit out at least five games because of tendinitis in his left knee.

The decision to waive Ruffin was unexpected, because Executive Vice President Jerry West had been so high on the free agent from Hawaii, the find of summer league play at UC Irvine. It also means that both Antonio Harvey and Anthony Miller have made the team, giving the Lakers six power forwards and centers.