With swiftness over the last week, the injury bug has wreaked havoc on the Lakers. After briefly getting fully healthy, the pendulum has swung back the other way, highlighted by four starters being out
in the second half of Saturday’s game against the Clippers.
The silver lining in the situation is that none of the injuries were long-term setbacks. Both Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton are on the upward swing and nearing a return while Luka Dončić’s injury didn’t seem serious.
The Lakers’ injury report for Tuesday’s meeting with the Suns painted a clearer picture. Luka will be out for the game while Austin is questionable and Deandre Ayton is off the injury report.
Both Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent remain out.
At practice on Monday, head coach JJ Redick said that was considered day-to-day. He had a wrap on his leg when media was allowed into practice.
Redick noted that the injury happened after Bogdan Bogdanovic kneed him in the calf, causing it to tighten up. While I am not a doctor nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, that does feel like a lot better situation than straining a muscle during a play.
As for Austin, he was a partial participant in practice on Monday. He, too, is day-to-day.
When asked about how Austin takes the final step to getting back onto the court, Redick said it would come down to Reaves being 100% confident in his calf and making sure he “doesn’t feel anything” with his calf.
Calf injuries are a sensitive topic in the NBA after last year’s postseason, so I don’t think anyone is pushing Reaves to return. But worst-case scenario, it sounds like he’ll be back by the Christmas Day game against Houston.
The best bit of news from practice is that Ayton was a full participant in practice and, as seen above, is off the injury report. Ayton missed the last two games with left elbow soreness.
Redick did not have any update on Rui, who is also considered day-to-day, and Vincent, who has been out with a lower back injury.
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