Opening week in the NBA keeps rolling tomorrow night with one of the league’s most familiar matchups, but the Lakers and Clippers won’t be bringing full rosters to the stage. When the two Los Angeles teams meet for the first time this season, both sides are dealing with injury absences that could shape what the game looks like from the jump.
For the Lakers, Cameron Carr is out with a right oblique strain and Adou Thiero has been ruled out because of a left knee effusion. That trims the bench, though the damage is mostly confined to players who wouldn’t be expected to carry heavy minutes anyway unless the game gets out of hand. Jake LaRavia is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain, while Walker Kessler is available despite a left finger splint.
The bigger boost for the Lakers is at the top of the rotation. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are both set to play without restrictions, giving Los Angeles its three most important pieces for this meeting. LaRavia could still provide some help if he’s able to go; he already chipped in 10 points off the bench in Wednesday’s win.
The Clippers’ injury picture is much tougher. Bradley Beal will sit with knee injury management, and he joins Brandon Ingram, Jordan Miller, Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Max Strus on the sideline. Ingram is out after right heel surgery, Miller is recovering from rotator cuff surgery, Niederhauser is out following right Lisfranc surgery, and Strus is sidelined by a right plantar fascia tear.
That leaves the Clippers trying to stay afloat while they continue to sort through the aftermath of the Kawhi Leonard drama. They did show something in a blowout win over the Kings earlier this week, but the absences make it hard to know how much of that can carry over against a deeper opponent.
The challenge is simple: while the Lakers are missing mostly fringe rotation players, the Clippers are without some of their best options, and several of them may be gone for weeks or even months. That puts extra pressure on players like Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura to absorb more of the load.
So on paper, this looks like a game the Lakers should control. They’re at home, they’re healthier, and they have the best players available on the floor. If they want to stack wins and keep pace with teams like the Thunder and Spurs, this is the kind of matchup they’re expected to handle.
Still, the Clippers should bring plenty of fight, which at the very least should make for a lively night. More than anything, both teams will be hoping their injury lists start shrinking while the season is still young.
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Lakers Let A Former First Round Pick Slip Into A Contenders Plans
Dalton Knechts brief run in Los Angeles has already become one of the more notable roster twists around the Lakers this season. The former first-round pick was waived before the regular season trade deadline after a potential deal never came together, and head coach JJ Redick pointed to changes in the roster and the teams evolving needs as part of the reason his minutes had faded.
Now the focus has shifted to what comes next for Knecht, and the Lakers may not be the only team watching closely. Several clubs have already shown interest in signing him, including the Knicks, with a two-way contract emerging as a possible landing spot. For a player who entered the season with promise and then saw his role shrink, the next move could come quickly, and it will say plenty about how the rest of the league still values him. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Center Search Keeps Pulling Mavericks Into An Uncomfortable Debate
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One name that keeps coming up in broader roster chatter is PJ Washington, whose fit has been discussed as a way to complement what the Lakers have in place. For now, the center conversation is less about a finished answer than about how far the team wants to go in reshaping that part of the roster, and whether the next move comes from a trade or from a market that is still being watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Regret Letting Dalton Knecht Get Another NBA Chance
Dalton Knechts path back into the league did not take long to materialize after the Lakers moved on from him before the regular season. The former Los Angeles forward has now landed with the Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, and New York wasted little time making its interest known once he cleared waivers. For a player who was left searching for a landing spot, the move gives him another real shot to prove he belongs.
The Knicks are treating Knecht like more than a flyer, and that alone makes this one worth tracking for the Lakers. He is expected to compete for a role on New Yorks roster, which means this is not just a depth signing, but a chance for him to carve out a place with a team that pursued him aggressively. If he sticks, it will only sharpen the question of whether Los Angeles gave up on him a little too early. [Read more 🡒]