The Los Angeles Lakers are facing yet another setback in their already battered frontcourt. Backup center Jaxson Hayes has been sidelined due to a left ankle sprain sustained during Tuesday’s practice. The team confirmed that he will miss Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies and will undergo reevaluation in 1-2 weeks.
Lakers’ Frontline Gets Even Thinner: Jaxson Hayes Injured, Christian Wood Setback
This injury comes at a time when the Lakers can least afford it. Hayes had just turned in one of his standout performances of the season in Sunday’s win over the Toronto Raptors. He contributed 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds, and blocked a shot, helping L.A. outscore Toronto by 21 points during his 21 minutes on the court. It was a rare glimpse of the depth the Lakers had hoped for this season.
However, the bad news didn’t stop with Hayes. Coach JJ Redick revealed that Christian Wood, another key reserve, is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. Wood, who had been ramping up his recovery, has now hit a roadblock, forcing him to miss at least another month. This leaves the Lakers with an even more shallow center rotation.
In the midst of this chaos, the Lakers’ star big man, Anthony Davis, is also dealing with his own issues. After taking a poke to the eye in the win against the Raptors, Davis visited an ophthalmologist on Monday. Fortunately, his eye was cleared, and Davis will be available for the Grizzlies game. But with Hayes and Wood out, Davis’ health becomes even more crucial for L.A.’s hopes this season.
Now, the Lakers’ frontcourt depth relies heavily on two-way player Christian Koloko, who has been working his way back after missing last season due to a blood clot issue. Koloko, who has played in just three games since being cleared by the NBA’s fitness panel, will be expected to step up in this challenging stretch.
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