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The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report, and the injury status for LeBron James and Luka Doncic, are all good news for the Sunday Celtics game.
The Los Angeles Lakers had recently begun to enjoy something rare this season, a clean bill of health.
With Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves all available at the same time, the team appeared poised to build continuity at a crucial stage of the campaign. But just as stability seemed within reach, injuries resurfaced.
Backup center Jaxson Hayes missed Tuesday’s narrow 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic with a right ankle sprain, disrupting the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation once again.
Prior to the game, head coach JJ Redick provided a cautiously optimistic update, revealing that imaging showed Hayes had a “little bruise” and describing him as day-to-day moving forward.
Encouragingly for Los Angeles, Hayes has since been listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns, suggesting his absence may be brief and that he could return immediately.
Lakers Set to Welcome Back Hayes as Hachimura Emerges on Injury Report
Now in his third season with the Lakers, Hayes has averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 47 appearances.
While his role has been limited, the seven-footer has quietly developed into a reliable interior presence, particularly amid the inconsistency and scrutiny surrounding starting center Deandre Ayton.
His likely return offers timely reinforcement. However, as Hayes moves closer to rejoining the lineup, a new concern has surfaced.
Rui Hachimura has been listed as questionable for Thursday’s game due to illness, casting uncertainty over his availability.
Unlike Hayes, who carries a probable designation, Hachimura’s questionable status suggests a genuine possibility he could miss time.
If unavailable, it would represent a meaningful absence. Hachimura has been a consistent contributor for the Lakers this season, averaging 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting a career-best 44% from three-point range in 29.5 minutes per game across 47 contests.
His floor spacing and versatility have made him a key part of the rotation, whether as a starter or off the bench.
Los Angeles Face Crucial Suns Clash Amid Tight Western Conference Race
Bronny James and Adou Thiero also appear on the injury report, though their designations reflect ongoing assignments with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, rather than injury concerns.
Both players featured in South Bay’s 113-99 victory over the Valley Suns on Wednesday. James delivered a season-high 21 points, while Thiero added 14 points and seven rebounds, continuing his encouraging return from injury.
At the NBA level, however, the Lakers enter Thursday’s contest searching for momentum. Los Angeles has dropped two straight games and four of its last six, slipping to 34-23 on the season.
They currently sit sixth in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, with the Suns trailing by just two games in the play-in picture.
Phoenix enters the matchup in similarly poor form, having lost seven of its last 10 games, and will be severely shorthanded. Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith, and Cole Anthony have all been ruled out.
Despite the absences on both sides, the stakes remain high. With playoff positioning tightening and little margin for error, Thursday’s matchup presents an important opportunity for the Lakers to stabilize their rotation, regain momentum, and protect their place in the postseason race.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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