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Lakers head coach JJ Redick during a game against the Charlotte Hornets in January 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers have once again had to navigate injuries over the past few games, a recurring issue that has plagued the team throughout the season.
The latest high-profile setback involved LeBron James, who sat out Friday night’s 128-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers after suffering an elbow injury late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.
James wasn’t the only Laker to go down in that contest.
Starting center Deandre Ayton exited after just four minutes against Denver and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game due to left knee soreness, further adding to the team’s injury concerns.
Lakers Receive Encouraging Update on Deandre Ayton
Before the All-Star break, Ayton had already missed two games with soreness in his right knee. This time, however, the issue involved the opposite knee.
Like James, Ayton sat out the Pacers matchup, but the latest signs suggest he may be nearing a return for Sunday’s game against the New York Knicks.
On the most recent injury report, James is listed as questionable alongside Maxi Kleber, who is dealing with a lumbar back strain.
Ayton, however, does not appear on the report at all, an encouraging indication that his knee soreness has subsided.
Through 54 games this season, the 27-year-old is averaging a career-low 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and just under one block per game while shooting 66.7% from the field.
When the Lakers signed the former No. 1 overall pick last offseason, the move was expected to finally stabilize the team’s center position.
Instead, Ayton’s inconsistent performances have drawn increasing scrutiny, with some calling for changes to the starting lineup and questioning his long-term future in Los Angeles.
With Ayton sidelined against Denver, backup center Jaxson Hayes stepped into a larger role and delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season.
Hayes finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists while shooting 8-of-10 from the field. He also recorded a plus-seven rating, the second-best mark on the team behind Rui Hachimura’s plus-10.
Jaxson Hayes Continues to Make His Case to Start
Hayes remained part of the expanded rotation against Indiana as well.
Across 25 minutes, he recorded nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal while shooting 3-of-6 from the field.
Through 53 appearances this season, the seven-footer is averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting an impressive 76.4% from the field in 17.7 minutes per game.
As the season has progressed, calls have steadily grown for Hayes to receive a larger role, and possibly even a move into the starting lineup, amid Ayton’s continued struggles.
Since the All-Star break, Hayes is averaging a team-best +9.4 plus-minus, further highlighting his impact.
”Jaxson’s had a really good season,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently said. “I know I played with him his first two years. He’s a better basketball player, he’s gotten better.”
“He’s making touch shots around the rim, he’s making great pocket decisions. He’s a good basketball player that, frankly, he consistently injects energy into the group when he runs the floor, blocks a shot or gets those dunks.”
The Lakers currently sit sixth in the Western Conference with a 38-25 record in what remains a tightly contested playoff race.
After briefly dropping three straight games, Los Angeles has now responded by winning four of its last five.
With the postseason race tightening across the conference, every game carries increasing significance as the regular season moves toward its final stretch.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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