The Los Angeles Lakers are limping into the holiday stretch, both figuratively and literally, after dropping their second straight game in a lopsided 132-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The defeat wasn’t just another mark in the loss column-it came with another hit to their already depleted roster. This time, it was reserve big man Jaxson Hayes who went down, suffering an apparent ankle injury that forced him out of the game after just five minutes of action.
Hayes’ night ended early, and quietly-two points, one rebound, and a trip to the locker room. But his absence was felt far more than the box score might suggest.
In a season where the Lakers have struggled to stay healthy, Hayes has been one of the few constants. He’s embraced his role off the bench and has stepped up when called upon to fill in with the starters, especially during stretches when Deandre Ayton was sidelined.
Speaking of Ayton, he was back in the lineup Tuesday, as was Austin Reaves, giving the Lakers a bit of a boost in terms of available bodies. Still, they were without Luka Dončić, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent. There’s cautious optimism that Dončić could return for the highly anticipated Christmas Day matchup against the Houston Rockets, but nothing is set in stone.
What’s made Hayes valuable this season isn’t just his energy or rim protection-it’s the subtle growth in his game. He’s been more composed in the short roll, making quicker, smarter decisions, and he’s even flirted with expanding his range beyond the arc.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Hayes had logged 24 appearances, including four starts, averaging just over 17 minutes per game. In that time, he’s put up 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per contest, shooting a blistering 76.6 percent from the field.
His free-throw shooting-65 percent-remains a work in progress, but his efficiency around the rim has been a clear asset.
Now, the Lakers head back to Los Angeles for a crucial three-game homestand to close out the calendar year. It kicks off with the Rockets on Christmas Day, followed by matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons. With the Western Conference playoff race already heating up, these games carry more weight than just holiday hype.
The Lakers need to get healthy-and fast. But in the meantime, they’ll be leaning on players like Hayes, assuming he’s able to return soon, to keep the ship steady. Injuries have tested the depth and resilience of this group all season, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that every healthy body matters.