The Lakers are gearing up for their Saturday showdown with the Clippers, but they’ll be doing so with a few key players still on the shelf - and one more potentially joining them.
Injury Report Rundown
Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness), Austin Reaves (left calf strain), and Gabe Vincent (low back soreness) are officially out, while Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) is listed as questionable.
Let’s unpack what that means for the Lakers heading into a big intra-city matchup.
Austin Reaves: Caution Over Calendar
Reaves has now missed two straight games with a left calf strain. The Lakers were optimistic this wouldn’t turn into a long-term issue, and there’s still confidence he won’t be sidelined for more than a week.
But with calf injuries, there’s always a risk of aggravation if a player comes back too soon. The team is clearly prioritizing long-term health over short-term availability - and rightfully so.
Reaves is a key piece in the Lakers’ rotation, and getting him back at 100% is more important than rushing him back for one game in December.
Deandre Ayton: A Big Absence in the Paint
Ayton remains out with elbow soreness after missing Thursday’s win over the Utah Jazz. That’s a notable loss, considering how well he’s started the season.
Ayton has been a steady presence inside - scoring efficiently, cleaning the glass, and anchoring the defense. His absence puts more pressure on the Lakers’ frontcourt depth, but Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber stepped up admirably against Utah.
Expect them to shoulder the load again, but make no mistake: Ayton’s two-way impact is hard to replicate.
Rui Hachimura: A New Concern
Hachimura is a new addition to the injury report with right groin soreness. It’s unclear when the issue cropped up, but it’s enough to cast doubt on his status for Saturday.
That’s a tough potential blow for L.A., as Hachimura has been one of the team’s most reliable floor-spacers this season. His ability to stretch defenses and knock down open looks has been a valuable weapon, especially when LeBron and Anthony Davis draw double teams.
If he’s unable to go, the Lakers will need others - perhaps Taurean Prince or Cam Reddish - to step up and fill that offensive void.
LeBron James: A Close Call
LeBron gave Lakers fans a scare during the win over Utah when he took a knock to the knee and looked momentarily hobbled. But after the game, he downplayed the incident.
“Just a little bump to the knee, like a sharp pain,” James said. “I got kneed on the inside, kind of like the medial side of the knee… I told Mike [Mancias], my trainer, that we dodged a bullet there.”
That’s a sigh of relief for the Lakers. At 40 years old and with more than two decades of NBA mileage, every tweak or bump LeBron takes is going to draw attention - and rightly so. But the fact that he finished the game and isn’t listed on the injury report is a strong sign that he’s good to go against the Clippers.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers have been dealing with injuries all season, and this latest report is another reminder of how important depth and health management are going to be if they want to stay in the mix in the West. With Ayton out, Reaves still recovering, and Hachimura questionable, the rotation could look a little different on Saturday. But if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s that they can adapt - and with LeBron still leading the way, they’ll have a fighting chance no matter who suits up.