The Lakers are eyeing their third straight win as they head across the hall to face the Clippers on Saturday night. And while the Clippers’ 6-21 record doesn’t exactly scream “threat,” this is still an NBA team with enough firepower to make things interesting if the Lakers take their foot off the gas.
But L.A. won’t be at full strength. The Lakers are already down three key rotation pieces: Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Gabe Vincent have all been ruled out. Reaves continues to recover from a calf strain, Ayton is nursing elbow soreness, and Vincent remains sidelined with a lingering back issue.
And just hours before tipoff, the injury report got a little longer. Rui Hachimura has been ruled out with groin soreness after previously being listed as questionable.
That’s a tough blow for a team that’s been leaning on Hachimura for consistent scoring off the bench. He’s averaging 13.3 points per game this season, shooting an efficient 53.5% from the field and a career-best 45.6% from beyond the arc.
That kind of shooting isn’t easy to replace - especially when you’re already down multiple rotation players.
For the Lakers, this game is as much about maintaining momentum as it is about managing minutes. With two full days off before their next matchup against the Suns on Tuesday, there’s a bit of breathing room on the schedule. But that doesn’t mean they can afford to overlook the Clippers, no matter what the standings say.
Even shorthanded, the Lakers have found ways to win lately - leaning on their stars, tightening up defensively, and getting timely contributions from role players. That formula will be tested again tonight, especially without Hachimura’s scoring punch and Reaves’ playmaking.
The Lakers are in a stretch where every win counts, not just in the standings but in building continuity and confidence. The Clippers might not be rolling right now, but in a rivalry game like this, records tend to go out the window. Expect a hard-fought battle - and another opportunity for the Lakers to show they’re finding their stride, even with a few key names in street clothes.