The injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers finally received some welcome news ahead of their rematch with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Center Jaxson Hayes is set to return after missing three games with left patellar tendinopathy, giving the short-handed Lakers a badly needed interior presence.
Lakers coach JJ Redick hinted at Hayes’ availability following Monday’s loss against Portland, marking his first appearance since the season opener.
“Hopeful, hopeful on Jaxson [Hayes], hopeful on Marcus [Smart]. Hopeful, but we’ll see,” Redick said after Monday’s 122-108 loss to Portland.
He got half his wish.
Lakers’ Injury List Still Grows Without Dončić, LeBron and Smart
While Hayes’ return provides some frontcourt relief, the Lakers remain without their two biggest stars — Luka Dončić (left finger sprain and lower leg contusion) and LeBron James (sciatica).
Dončić, who erupted for 49 points in the Lakers’ 128-110 win over the Timberwolves five days ago, will be sidelined for at least a week, while James continues to nurse the nerve irritation that has kept him out since opening night.
Smart (right quad contusion) and Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) are also ruled out for a second straight game. Maxi Kleber (abdominal strain) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee surgery recovery) remain unavailable.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards (right hamstring) is the only key absence for Minnesota, which enters Wednesday’s matchup as -7.5 favorites at 247 Bet, one of the new Finnish-language casinos, per suomenkielisetnettikasinot.com.
Hayes’ Return Bolsters Lakers Frontcourt Depth
GettyLos Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will make his return after a three-game absence.
Hayes’ return couldn’t come at a better time. He will join Deandre Ayton in the frontcourt against Minnesota’s imposing trio of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid.
Ayton has been one of the few bright spots during the Lakers’ 2-2 start, averaging 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. He tallied 22 points and 15 rebounds in their 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings — the first game without Dončić.
For Hayes, this game represents an opportunity to redeem himself. The athletic 7-footer was benched for most of last year’s playoff series against the Timberwolves when Redick leaned heavily on small-ball lineups.
In his lone appearance this season, Hayes posted four points and six rebounds in 14 minutes against Golden State. Wednesday’s matchup will be his first chance to re-establish himself in the rotation.
Austin Reaves Emerges as Lakers’ New Star
With Dončić and James both sidelined, Austin Reaves has become the Lakers’ unlikely savior — and possibly their future franchise cornerstone.
The undrafted guard is averaging a blistering 35.8 points, 8.5 assists, and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 57.3% from the field and 42.9% from deep.
Reaves has exploded for back-to-back 50-plus and 40-plus point games against the Kings and Trail Blazers, carrying the Lakers’ offense nearly single-handedly.
“The biggest thing was him taking a step forward as a leader,” Redick said. “He knows this is as much his team as LeBron’s or Luka’s. He’s no longer the undrafted guy — he’s one of the guys now.”
Reaves’ breakout couldn’t come at a better time. In the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $53 million contract, he is expected to decline his $14.8 million player option and seek a new deal next summer worth north of $40 million per season, per The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
Lakers Lean on Depth as Season-Defining Stretch Begins
The Lakers’ next stretch — without Dončić and James — will test their depth and resilience. Redick has leaned on Ayton, Reaves, and Smart (when healthy) to keep the team afloat while maintaining playoff aspirations in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
With Hayes back and Reaves surging, the Lakers will hope to survive this injury storm long enough for their stars to return — and to finally get a clear picture of what this new-look roster can be.
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