The Los Angeles Lakers ruled out reserve center Jaxson Hayes for the second half of Sunday afternoon’s matchup with the Boston Celtics after he injured his right ankle.
Hayes appeared in just five first-half minutes at Crypto.com Arena, recording two points and one rebound before medical staff determined he could not continue. The team did not specify when the injury occurred or provide a timetable for his return.
The setback comes days after the Lakers had finally regained full health for the first time this season. In Hayes’ absence, most of the minutes in the middle are expected to shift to Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber, while head coach JJ Redick could also experiment with smaller lineups.
Signed last summer to bolster the bench, the 6-foot-11 center has been the club’s primary lob target and an energy source in limited action. The Lakers hope the ankle issue is minor and that Hayes can rejoin the rotation soon.
LeBron James Emphasizes Ball Movement
Speaking before the game, LeBron James outlined the offensive priorities he believes will drive a late-season surge. “When we’re sharing the ball and we have 25-plus assists, we’re a pretty good team,” James said. He stressed the importance of keeping turnovers low and ensuring all five players touch the ball on most possessions. James added that the process “starts with Luka, myself and AR,” referencing the club’s primary ball-handlers.
Source: LakersNation.com
