Jan. 16, 2026, 7:09 p.m. PT
Yet again, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to rebound from a loss after falling apart and losing 135-117 on Thursday to the Charlotte Hornets. In that game, they once again played anemic defense, and, at times, their offense was also a problem.
Their schedule is starting to get tougher, as they will start an eight-game road trip on Tuesday. First, they will have a set of back-to-back games over the weekend, starting with a Saturday evening road matchup versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
In Saturday’s game, the Lakers will be short-handed. Luka Doncic will not play due to a groin ailment, and they could also be without starting center Deandre Ayton and backup center Jaxson Hayes.
Doncic has been playing banged-up lately, and he admitted after Monday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings that he was unsure if he was going to be able to play in that game. Hayes, meanwhile, missed both of L.A.’s last two contests.
The team will return home on Sunday to face the Toronto Raptors before starting that eight-game road trip with a matchup versus the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
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