The Los Angeles Lakers suffered another player to their growing injury list. Gabe Vincent has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle and will miss at least two to four weeks.
According to Dave McMenamin and Shams Charania of ESPN, Vincent suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. He was in a walking boot after the game and underwent an X-ray the following day to check the severity of his injury.
The results came back negative, but an MRI showed that Vincent had a sprained ankle. NBA insider Chris Haynes added that the veteran point guard also sustained a slight ligament tear in his left ankle.
In addition to Vincent, LeBron James is already out until mid-November with sciatica. Luka Doncic is out for a week due to a sprained finger and a lower leg contusion, while Maxi Kleber is recovering from a strained oblique suffered in the first day of training camp.
Other players on the team’s injury report include rookie Adou Thiero, who underwent offseason knee surgery, and Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes. Smart has a minor quadriceps issue and Hayes is dealing with a knee problem, as per ESPN’s injury report.
Jake LaRavia Replaced Gabe Vincent in Starting Lineup
Gabe Vincent was named starter by coach JJ Redick at the start of the season amid LeBron James’ recovery from sciatica. Vincent averaged 3.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.0 minutes per game in the Los Angeles Lakers’ first three contests.
In Vincent’s absence on Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Redick went with Jake LaRavia as Austin Reaves‘ backcourt partner. LaRavia finished with three points, six rebounds and five assists, while Reaves continued to stay hot following his 51-point performance in Sacramento.
Reaves had 41 points, four rebounds and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Blazers from getting the 122-108 win. With no other options, the 27-year-old guard was expected to take over the team’s offense, and he hasn’t disappointed.
With James and Luka Doncic on the sidelines, Reaves has been given a chance to increase his value ahead of his free agency next summer. He’s averaging 34.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.3 steals after the first four games of the season. He’s also shooting 56.6% from the field, 45.0% from 3-point range and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
Redick Gives Update on Smart and Hayes
Speaking to reporters after the loss to the Blazers, Lakers coach JJ Redick shared an update on Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes. Redick is hoping to get the duo back in time for the team’s next game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Wednesday.
“Hopeful on Jaxson, hopeful on Marcus. Yeah, hopeful, but we’ll see,” Redick said, via Fadeaway World.
The Lakers begin a two-game road trip in Minnesota before traveling to Tennessee to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The game against the Grizzlies will be the team’s first group stage matchup for the 2025 NBA Cup. They are in Group B with the Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.
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