{"id":250373,"date":"2025-10-30T06:54:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T06:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/250373\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T06:54:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T06:54:05","slug":"lakers-finally-catch-a-break-with-key-reinforcement-amid-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/250373\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Finally Catch a Break With Key Reinforcement Amid Injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"JJ\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

JJ Reddick on the sideline during a game against the Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

The injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> finally received some welcome news ahead of their rematch with the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Center Jaxson Hayes<\/a> is set to return<\/a> after missing three games with left patellar tendinopathy, giving the short-handed Lakers a badly needed interior presence.<\/p>\n

Lakers coach JJ Redick hinted at Hayes\u2019 availability following Monday\u2019s loss against Portland, marking his first appearance since the season opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopeful, hopeful on Jaxson [Hayes<\/a>], hopeful on Marcus [Smart<\/a>]. Hopeful, but we\u2019ll see,\u201d Redick said<\/a> after Monday\u2019s 122-108 loss to Portland.<\/p>\n

He got half his wish.<\/p>\n

Lakers\u2019 Injury List Still Grows Without Don\u010di\u0107, LeBron and Smart<\/p>\n

While Hayes\u2019 return provides some frontcourt relief, the Lakers remain without their two biggest stars \u2014 Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> (left finger sprain and lower leg contusion) and LeBron James<\/a> (sciatica).<\/p>\n

Don\u010di\u0107, who erupted for 49 points in the Lakers\u2019 128-110 win over the Timberwolves five days ago, will be sidelined for at least a week, while James continues to nurse the nerve irritation that has kept him out since opening night.<\/p>\n

Smart (right quad contusion) and Gabe Vincent<\/a> (left ankle sprain) are also ruled out for a second straight game. Maxi Kleber<\/a> (abdominal strain) and rookie Adou Thiero<\/a> (knee surgery recovery) remain unavailable.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards<\/a> (right hamstring) is the only key absence for Minnesota, which enters Wednesday\u2019s matchup as -7.5 favorites at 247 Bet, one of the new Finnish-language casinos, per suomenkielisetnettikasinot.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hayes\u2019 Return Bolsters Lakers Frontcourt Depth\"Jaxson<\/p>\n

GettyLos Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes will make his return after a three-game absence.<\/p>\n

Hayes\u2019 return couldn\u2019t come at a better time. He will join Deandre Ayton<\/a> in the frontcourt against Minnesota\u2019s imposing trio of Rudy Gobert<\/a>, Julius Randle<\/a>, and Naz Reid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ayton has been one of the few bright spots during the Lakers\u2019 2-2 start, averaging 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. He tallied 22 points and 15 rebounds in their 127-120 win over the Sacramento Kings<\/a> \u2014 the first game without Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n

For Hayes, this game represents an opportunity to redeem himself. The athletic 7-footer was benched for most of last year\u2019s playoff series against the Timberwolves when Redick leaned heavily on small-ball lineups.<\/p>\n

In his lone appearance this season, Hayes posted four points and six rebounds in 14 minutes against Golden State. Wednesday\u2019s matchup will be his first chance to re-establish himself in the rotation.<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves Emerges as Lakers\u2019 New Star<\/p>\n

With Don\u010di\u0107 and James both sidelined, Austin Reaves<\/a> has become the Lakers\u2019 unlikely savior \u2014 and possibly their future franchise cornerstone.<\/p>\n

The undrafted guard is averaging a blistering 35.8 points, 8.5 assists, and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 57.3% from the field and 42.9% from deep.<\/p>\n

Reaves has exploded for back-to-back 50-plus and 40-plus point games against the Kings and Trail Blazers<\/a>, carrying the Lakers\u2019 offense nearly single-handedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing was him taking a step forward as a leader,\u201d Redick said. \u201cHe knows this is as much his team as LeBron\u2019s or Luka\u2019s. He\u2019s no longer the undrafted guy \u2014 he\u2019s one of the guys now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reaves\u2019 breakout couldn\u2019t come at a better time. In the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $53 million contract, he is expected to decline his $14.8 million player option and seek a new deal next summer worth north of $40 million per season, per The Athletic\u2019s Dan Woike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lakers Lean on Depth as Season-Defining Stretch Begins<\/p>\n

The Lakers\u2019 next stretch \u2014 without Don\u010di\u0107 and James \u2014 will test their depth and resilience. Redick has leaned on Ayton, Reaves, and Smart (when healthy) to keep the team afloat while maintaining playoff aspirations in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.<\/p>\n

With Hayes back and Reaves surging, the Lakers will hope to survive this injury storm long enough for their stars to return \u2014 and to finally get a clear picture of what this new-look roster can be.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAlder Almo<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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