The Los Angeles Lakers could enter Thursday night without two key rotation pieces as they face the Phoenix Suns in a pivotal Western Conference matchup.
Rui Hachimura is listed as questionable with an illness, while Jaxson Hayes is probable after missing Tuesday’s 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic with a right ankle sprain. With just 25 games remaining and playoff positioning tightening, availability matters more than ever.
Los Angeles (34-23) dropped two straight and four of its last six. After briefly enjoying a clean bill of health with LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves all active, the Lakers are once again juggling rotation uncertainty.
Rui Hachimura’s Status Looms Large
Hachimura’s potential absence would sting. The forward has embraced his bench role since mid-January while maintaining starter-level impact. He’s averaging 11.7 points per game on 50.6% shooting and a sharp 44% from three. Even in Tuesday’s loss, he logged 26 minutes, scored 10 points, and was part of the closing lineup.
Hachimura is playing 29.5 minutes per night and functions as one of the Lakers’ most reliable floor spacers. If he cannot go, forwards like Jake LaRavia would need to absorb extra minutes. Given it’s an illness, there’s little long-term concern, but his short-term availability could swing Thursday’s matchup.
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Jaxson Hayes Trending Toward Return
Hayes’ situation appears more optimistic. Head coach JJ Redick described the ankle issue as a “little bruise” and labeled him day-to-day. Imaging supported that evaluation, and Hayes is now listed as probable. If he plays, he will have missed just one game.
His return would stabilize the second unit. Hayes is averaging 6.8 points while shooting a career-high 77% from the field. Redick recently called him the team’s best vertical lob threat, hinting both to his importance on the floor and hinting once again to Deandre Ayton’s fall out of favor in the rotation.
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For the Phoenix Suns, they will be without Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Cole Anthony, Jordan Goodwin, and Haywood Highsmith. Coming off of losing seven of their last ten, the Suns sit just two games ahead of the Lakers. But Phoenix leads the season series 2-1, making this final meeting significant for potential tiebreaker implications.
If the Lakers want to protect their place in the West’s top six, they need stability and ideally, both Hachimura and Hayes in uniform.