The Los Angeles Lakers announced that Luka Doncic (lower left leg contusion) and Rui Hachimura (right groin soreness) are available for their Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets while Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) is out.
Doncic returning after a two-game absence doesn’t come as a surprise as he was originally listed as questionable but reports indicated he would be able to play. He is also expected to debut his new shoes with Jordan Brand given the big Christmas Day stage at Crypto.com Arena.
The Rockets are one of the biggest teams in the league and have dominated the offensive glass all season. Because of that, the Lakers will need all the help the can get on the interior.
Hachimura and Hayes aren’t necessarily known for their rebounding, but they are two of the bigger players on the Lakers roster that can help combat Houston’s size. Hayes being out means that Maxi Kleber will likely get backup center minutes behind Deandre Ayton, although JJ Redick could also go small at times to give the Rockets a different look.
Both teams come in struggling as the Lakers have lost two straight games for the first time all season while the Rockets have lost four of their last five. They are still two of the best teams in the Western Conference though and there certainly will be no shortage of star power when they meet on Christmas with Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun all suiting up for their respective teams.
LeBron James discusses Lakers’ defensive and effort issues
If the Lakers are going to come out victorious against the Rockets on Christmas Day, their defense will have to be much better than it has been lately. James recently diagnosed the Lakers’ issues on that side of the court and their inconsistent effort.
“It’s the same thing I’ve said before, it has to be five guys on a string,” James said after the recent loss to the Suns. “And these guys also made a lot of midrange, contested twos too and those are part of our keys that we’re willing to give up. It’s the fastbreak points, it’s the second-chance points, it’s the open threes that we do not wanna give up.”
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