The Los Angeles Lakers have supplied an update on starting center Deandre Ayton prior to the club’s Miami clash.

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Per the league’s latest injury report, the Lakers will continue to be without 21-time All-NBA superstar power forward LeBron James (who has missed the entire season with sciatica on his right side and lower back), reserve center/power forward Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain), rookie forward Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery), and point guard Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain).

Injuries 11/2

NOP:
Kevon Looney – Questionable
Dejounte Murray – Out

OKC:
Chet Holmgren – Out
Jalen Williams – Out
Kenrich Williams – Out
Nikola Topic – Out
Thomas Sorber – Out

ATL:
Trae Young – Out

CLE:
Donovan Mitchell – Questionable
Jarrett Allen – Questionable
Sam Merrill…

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 2, 2025

The Miami Heat, meanwhile, will be missing All-Star shooting guard Tyler Herro as he recovers from left ankle surgery. Rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis is on the shelf with a strained right groin. The 6-foot-6 University of Illinois product, 19, was selected with No. 20 pick in last summer’s 2025 NBA Draft, but has yet to play in a game for the Heat.

New trade acquisition Norman Powell is questionable to suit up with a right groin strain. Power forward Nikola Jovic, meanwhile, has been upgraded to available despite a right hip contusion.

Pricey Miami point guard Terry Rozier, of course, is away from the team dealing with an FBI indictment over a gambling scandal. His salary is in an interest-bearing account, and will be made available to him if he’s ultimately cleared, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

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The Ayton news in especially encouraging, considering that the 7-foot former No.1 draft pick out of the University of Arizona sat out the entire second half of LA’s most recent game, a 117-112 defeat of the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Let’s throw out Ayton’s half-game against Memphis when we take stock of his stats so far.

Across his five full regular season games for Los Angeles thus far, the 27-year-old has been averaging 16.0 points on 62.3 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from the foul line, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.6 steals a night.

The Lakers inked Ayton to become its new full-time starter after he agreed to a buyout deal with the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this summer. He’s essentially on a “prove-it” deal, as he possesses a 2026-27 player option for the second year of his $16.2 million contract with Los Angeles.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.