Lakers head coach JJ Redick provided encouraging updates on injured guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on Monday, tweets Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.
Doncic, who didn’t play in the second half of Saturday’s loss to the Clippers, has a lower left leg contusion and is considered day-to-day. The 26-year-old had the bruised area taped during the portion of Monday’s practice that was open to the media, Price notes.
Reaves was able to go through portions of Monday’s practice and is also considered day-to-day, Redick said. The fifth-year guard has missed the past three games with a left calf strain the team described as mild.
[UPDATE: Doncic is out Tuesday at Phoenix, but Reaves has been upgraded to questionable, the Lakers announced (Twitter link via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin).]
Starting center Deandre Ayton should return to action on Tuesday, according to Price. Ayton won’t be listed on the team’s injury report after sitting out the past two contests due to a sore left elbow.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Knicks will be shorthanded on Tuesday, as Eastern Conference Player of the Week Jalen Brunson (right ankle injury management), defensive ace OG Anunoby (left ankle soreness) and backup big man Guerschon Yabusele (illness) have all been ruled out ahead of the contest at Minnesota, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Brunson missed a couple of games in mid-November due to a right ankle sprain.
- Reigning Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels has been ruled out of the Hawks‘ rematch with Chicago on Tuesday due to right hip inflammation, according to Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks (Twitter link). It will be Daniels’ first absence of the 2025/26 campaign. Reserve forward/center Mouhamed Gueye is also on the injury report, having been listed as questionable with a right shoulder sprain.
- Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, who was kneed in between the hip and rib areas last Monday, had a minor setback in terms of the pain he’s experiencing from the injury, head coach David Adelman said ahead of Saturday’s loss to Houston (Twitter link via Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette). While Watson has been out most of the past three games with the right trunk contusion, it doesn’t sound like a long-term issue — Adelman said the former first-round pick had a 50% chance to play Saturday before he was ruled out.
- Veteran Pacers guard T.J. McConnell will be sidelined for Monday’s game vs. Boston due to left knee soreness, as Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files relays (via Twitter). McConnell missed the first 10 games of the season with a strained hamstring, but had been active for the past 18 contests heading into Monday.
Lakers need more shooting. Nice looking team but not enough shooting or athleticism. Wonder who they’ll target this year. Miles Bridges would be a nice pick up for them.
Miles Bridges for Rui/Gabe/1st rounder who says no? Lakers close games with Bron Luka Ayton Bridges Reeves and also address more shooting from the perimeter.
Hornets clear salary and can target a PF or draft one in June (Caleb Wilson).
So the Lakers shore up their 3pt shooting by trading their best 3pt shooter (Hachimura) who’s shooting .456 for a guy that’s shooting .327(Bridges) while throwing in an expiring contract and a first for funsies?
Fair enough, but do you think that any moves the Lakers have done since 2020 really have made any logical sense? Besides the obvious in February 2025.
Lakers need Defense first second and thirdly
I think any trade involving their only first they’d be after a Derrick Jones +Dunn, Nesmith, Isaac Bey Ellis type player(s) that can be extended to defend for many years with Luka .
Bridges just aint that guy….I don’t think the Lakers will make (or find) that right deal this year for what its worth and will carry the asset pool over to the summer when it gets quite larger and more flexible . Think they will do next to nothing this deadline
Lakers have to move Reaves. He and Luka will never work defensively. Both are liabilities. Luka needs a strong 2way guard next to him. Imo they should sign Grimes next yr. They get him for nothing. He’s a FA and Lakers have plenty cap space. Plus they can get a young star for Reaves. With Bron leaving you trade for a 3 or 4.
Still better than the New York Knots
Were is the guy who said Lakers were contenders a couple week ago Johngood something. I can’t wait till he switches up. He’s right on schedule. Just like everybody else saying they need another piece when a couple weeks he go they were championship contenders. Then when they make a trade they will be contenders again until the playoffs when they’re out in the first or second round.
Bro this team has Zero Defense. I said i1000 times Luka, AR and LeBron can not be on the floor together. They will score 150 points and give up 200 points. Separate they stand a chance although I’m not sure if LeBron can play 35 38 minutes the full season. Team is stuck until next year.
TAKING THE PULSE OF THE HRC (Hoops Rumors Commenters), installment 2…………
Assuming no Luka (confirmed) but availability for LeBron and Austin (not confirmed yet), predict the overall FTA differential for Tuesday’s LAKERS@SUNS.
NOTE: Last meeting was LAKERS +18 (43 total FTA)