CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Los Angeles Lakers fielded a severely depleted roster on Saturday night, falling to the Charlotte Hornets by 16 points at Spectrum Center without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes or Deandre Ayton.
Head coach JJ Redick moved Maxi Kleber into the starting lineup at center and opened with Gabe Vincent in the backcourt. Two-way contracts Drew Timme and Kobe Bufkin logged a combined 51 minutes. Timme, appearing in an NBA game for the first time since April 2025, scored 21 points, the second-highest total on the team, but Los Angeles was badly out-rebounded and never threatened after an early deficit.
After the game, Redick noted that short-handed nights have become routine. He said the club approaches every matchup with the same expectations, yet injuries have forced constant adjustments. Reaves and LeBron James have already missed extended stretches, while Doncic, Rui Hachimura, Vincent, Hayes and Ayton have each sat out at various points. The head coach added that as one player returns, another often goes to the injury report, leaving the Lakers at times without either of their regular centers.
Saturday’s defeat marked the 15th time in 16 outings this season that Los Angeles has lost by double digits. The group will try to avoid a 1-6 slide over seven games when it visits the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Redick urged his players to remain steady through blowout losses, stressing the importance of composure until the roster is whole again.
Source: Lakers Nation
