The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and Deandre Ayton (left elbow soreness) is off it and good to go, while Luka Doncic (lower left leg contusion), Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) and Gabe Vincent (low back soreness) are out and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) is questionable.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after practice on Monday that Doncic, Reaves and Hachimura are all considered to be day-to-day moving forward. Reaves has a chance to suit up in Phoenix, while the other two will miss at least one most game.
Doncic sat out the second half of the Lakers’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night and was clearly hobbled even as he tried to tough out his leg issue in the first half. He finished with just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting along with four turnovers.
Reaves has missed the last three games with his calf issue and the Lakers are sure to be extremely cautious and ensure he is 100 percent healthy before bringing him back. Calf issues have been popping up all over the NBA and has sometimes led to much more serious injuries which the Lakers certainly don’t want to risk with Reaves playing at an All-Star level this season.
Hachimura’s groin issue came a bit out of nowhere, but teams will always be more cautious with soft tissue injuries. Hachimura has been an unsung hero for the Lakers this season and has been far and away the team’s best 3-point shooter. With the team’s major struggles from deep against the Clippers, being without Hachimura will be a challenge in Phoenix.
On the positive side of the injury front, Ayton was a full participant in practice and looks to be good to go against the Suns on Tuesday. The big man missed the Lakers’ last two games and his presence was sorely missed on both ends of the court. Getting him back in the lineup will be a needed boost for this team.
Vincent, on the other hand, has still not returned to practice and will remain out for Tuesday night and would seem unlikely to be able to suit up for the Lakers when they face the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
LeBron James: Lakers must be ready for challenge of missing players
It is still unclear who will be in uniform for the Lakers when they take the floor in the coming days, but they will be getting no sympathy from their opponents as they always get the opposition’s best shot. And LeBron James says everyone must be ready for the challenge of stepping up if key players are out.
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