The banged-up Los Angeles Lakers just can’t seem to catch a break.
After losing Luka Dončić for at least a week due to finger and lower leg injuries, the Lakers’ injury list grew even longer heading into Monday night’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena.
Marcus Smart (right quad contusion) and Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) were both ruled out for the second night of a back-to-back, leaving head coach JJ Redick with limited options and a rotation stretched to its limits.
Meanwhile, LeBron James remains sidelined with sciatic nerve irritation, Maxi Kleber (abdominal strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee) are still out, and backup center Jaxson Hayes will miss his third straight game with knee soreness.
With so many key players unavailable, Bronny James — who has appeared sparingly this season — is expected to receive increased minutes as the Lakers search for backcourt depth and energy off the bench.
Austin Reaves Drops 51 in Heroic Performance
GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket against the Sacramento Kings.
The mounting injuries overshadowed a historic performance from Austin Reaves, who exploded for a career-high 51 points to lead the Lakers to a 127–120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
Reaves’ effort helped the Lakers improve to 2–1 despite missing both Dončić and LeBron James. The 26-year-old guard went 21-of-22 from the free-throw line, including four clutch makes in the final 32 seconds to close out the win.
His scoring outburst placed him in rarefied company — joining Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis as the only Lakers since 2000 to score at least 50 points in a game.
Reaves also grabbed 11 rebounds and nine assists, narrowly missing a triple-double while shooting 61% from the field. According to NBA statistician Automatic, he became the first player in league history to post at least 50 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists with that level of efficiency.
“It wasn’t in my head thinking you’ve got to score 50,” Reaves said after the win. “It was, ‘Do whatever you can do to help the team win.’ And we played — not just myself but everybody — we played a hell of a game.”
Smart and Vincent Injuries Add to Lakers’ Setbacks
Smart added 11 points and five assists in 31 minutes but briefly left the game after sustaining a quad contusion. He later returned and finished the contest before being ruled out for Monday’s game as a precaution.
Vincent played only 19 minutes before exiting with a left ankle sprain. He left the arena in a walking boot, though ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that X-rays came back negative. Vincent expressed optimism that he won’t miss significant time.
Their injuries further deplete a Lakers roster already without five regular rotation players, forcing Redick to rely heavily on role players and young guards like Bronny James and Nick Smith Jr. to absorb backcourt minutes against Portland.
Ayton, Hachimura Step Up in Support of Reaves
Despite the chaos, Deandre Ayton had his strongest showing in a Lakers uniform, finishing with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura chipped in 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in one of the team’s most balanced offensive performances this season.
“He [Reaves] was fantastic,” Redick said postgame. “He did a little bit of everything for us — scored the basketball at an incredible level. But it’s his tenacity to compete — every single day he’s in the gym. He thrives on competition.”
The Lakers’ latest injury wave has placed enormous pressure on their remaining healthy players as the team braces for a difficult four-game stretch against Portland, Minnesota, Memphis, and Miami.
With Dončić and LeBron James still sidelined, Reaves’ emergence has been a lifeline for a team desperate for stability.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lakers Get More Bad News as Redick’s Rotation Gets Thinner appeared first on Heavy Sports.