The injury bug just won’t leave the Lakers alone. Already down key rotation piece Gabe Vincent-who’s sidelined for at least a week with lower back tightness-the team is now bracing for even more absences heading into their matchup with the Clippers.
There had been some hope that Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves might be back in the fold. Ayton had missed the previous game with left elbow soreness, while Reaves has been nursing a left calf strain that’s kept him out for the past week. But that optimism has faded-both players have officially been ruled out for the game.
And now, Rui Hachimura’s status is up in the air. The starting forward has been listed as questionable, casting further uncertainty over an already depleted Lakers lineup.
Despite the setbacks, the Lakers have shown resilience this season. They’ve managed to stay competitive-and even snag some key wins-while shorthanded. But let’s be clear: missing three starters and a rotation player like Vincent is no small hurdle, even against a struggling Clippers squad.
Hachimura’s potential absence would sting. He’s been quietly having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting a career-high 45.6% from beyond the arc.
He’s started all 25 games he’s played in this season, clearly earning the trust of head coach JJ Redick. His versatility and shooting have become integral to what the Lakers want to do on both ends of the floor.
The only game Hachimura has missed this year came due to left calf soreness-ironically, the same type of injury that’s currently sidelining Reaves. The Lakers still managed to pull out a win against the Bucks in that one, but every game is its own challenge, and losing Rui again would stretch this roster even thinner.
Now, if there’s any silver lining, it’s that the Clippers have had a brutal season so far. Sitting at 6-21, they’ve struggled to find any rhythm.
On paper, this is a team the Lakers should be able to handle, even with a few names missing. But rivalry games have a way of throwing the script out the window.
The Clippers might be down, but they’re not going to roll over-especially not against their cross-town rivals.
So, yes, the Lakers could still pull this one out. But the margin for error narrows with every name added to the injury report. If Hachimura can’t go, it’ll be another test of the Lakers’ depth, chemistry, and ability to adapt on the fly.
We’ll be watching closely for any updates on Hachimura’s status. If he’s out, the big question becomes not just how long he’ll be sidelined, but how the Lakers will continue to piece things together while waiting for their full roster to return.