The Los Angeles Lakers were holding their breath after a 133-121 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, November 30, but they eventually got the news they were hoping for.
Deandre Ayton told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he did not suffer any type of injury after bumping knees with the Pelicans’ Derik Queen during the fourth quarter of the game. Ayton exited the game and went to the locker room with the training staff following the incident.
Ayton missed a game last week against the Los Angeles Clippers after suffering a right-knee contusion against the Utah Jazz on November 22. He returned for the Lakers’ NBA Cup contest against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, November 28. Ayton appeared to aggravate the same knee on Sunday, so his update after the game was certainly good news for his team.
Ayton has been a key piece on the interior for Los Angeles this season, after he signed as a free agent in the summer. He had 22 points and 12 rebounds with four blocks against New Orleans.
Deandre Ayton Provides Injury Update
After the Lakers’ win against the Pelicans, Ayton assured everyone that he was fine after bumping knees with Queen late in the game.
“It cooled down after the game, so I’m good now,” Ayton said. “JJ [Redick] said he was going to sub me out regardless, so it was good timing.”
The Lakers have benefitted greatly after taking a flier on Ayton in the offseason. He played in only 40 games for Portland last season and had appeared in only 95 out of a possible 164 games from 2023-2025. This year the former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 16 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Ayton was in the same draft class as newly-acquired star Luka Doncic, and the pair has developed some elite chemistry this season with the center’s resurgence.
“Especially coming into the season hearing all the noise and the doubters, especially after the first game, it just brought a lot of fumes to my fire a little bit to where I just lock in on this defensive end and the other end I don’t really gotta worry about too much but setting screens and getting guys open when I roll, “ Ayton said.
“Everything’s really come together, and I realize that I generate a lot of energy”
Los Angeles Lakers Look To Keep Rolling
Los Angeles, which is in second in the Western Conference with a 15-4 record, has won seven games in a row and eight of their last 10. With LeBron James now healthy after battling sciatica in his right side, it has as formidable a starting lineup as any in the NBA.
The team looks poised to improve in Redick’s second season at the helm, their first full one with Doncic. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites in the West, but Los Angeles appears to be their primary competition. The Lakers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs last year by the Minnesota Timberwolves, so they’ll have that as motivation come April and May.
The Lakers have a challenging week ahead, with four games against teams over .500. They will face the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday, December 1 before traveling to play the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
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