Luka Doncic (left hamstring soreness) and Rui Hachimura (right calf injury management) are available for the Los Angeles Lakers’ contest on Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets. However Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Adou Thiero (left knee soreness) are out for the game.
This will be the third consecutive game missed for Smart while Thiero will be sitting out his second straight game. Both Thiero and Smart were ruled out by the Lakers last night. Hachimura returns to the lineup after a two-game absence.
Doncic has been on an absolute tear over the past couple weeks and has now placed himself firmly in the MVP conversation while lifting the Lakers to the third seed in the West. He is averaging 39.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.4 steals over the last 10 games and has scored at least 30 points in 11 straight for the Lakers including 43 in their win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.
Now Doncic can look to keep that streak going against a Nets team that has the second-worst record in the NBA and has lost nine straight games.
Smart’s importance to the success of the Lakers has been spoken about by many as he is this team’s defensive leader and has come up with many clutch plays. But the team doesn’t want to take any chances and will be cautious bringing him back to ensure he is completely healthy for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the timing of Thiero’s injury couldn’t have been worse as he likely would have been given a chance to play some real minutes with multiple rotation players down.
Hachimura has been the team’s most consistent scorer off the bench and one of the best 3-point shooters in the entire NBA, and he’ll be back in action as the sixth man.
Jake LaRavia has done a good job of stepping into the starting lineup as the Lakers’ primary defender and he will continue to take on that role in Smart’s absence with veteran Jarred Vanderbilt also stepping into the rotation and delivering what the team has needed from him. Bronny James gave the Lakers some good minutes in Indiana so it’s possible JJ Redick gives him another shot as well.
It is worth noting that starting center Deandre Ayton is completely off the injury report after missing the Pacers game so he will be good to go and Jaxson Hayes will return to his reserve role after an outstanding spot start against the Pacers.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic accomplishes feat last done by Michael Jordan
The Lakers went 5-1 on their recent road trip thanks in large part to the scoring exploits of Doncic who averaged 40.7 points on the trip. That makes him the first player since the legendary Michael Jordan to average more than 40 points on a six-game road trip.
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