Jaxson Hayes out one to two weeks with left ankle sprain
Jaxson Hayes will be unavailable for the Lakers for one to two weeks due to a left ankle sprain he suffered during practice on Tuesday.
The center position will be a bit slimmer for the Lakers, with Jaxson Hayes suffering a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's practice, ruling him out for approximately one to two weeks.
The team reported the injury on Wednesday after an MRI confirmed the diagnosis.
Per the Lakers: Jaxson Hayes has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. An MRI confirmed the injury, which occurred during practice Tuesday. Hayes will be re-evaluated in approximately one to two weeks.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) November 13, 2024
Hayes has been a key member of the Lakers' rotation, averaging 6.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.
He has played well as the backup big, giving the team a vertical threat near the rim.
Lakers coach JJ Redick commended Hayes’ play coming off the bench and pointed him out as a key factor in the reserves’ improved play in Sunday's win against Toronto.
In the matchup against the Raptors, Hayes had his best game of the season, stepping up when Anthony Davis went down with an eye injury.
AD will be back now, but Hayes will miss at least one week of action due to this injury.
With Christian Wood suffering a setback in rehab and being out for at least another four weeks, L.A. has few options at the center position.
This means we'll likely see more of two-way player, Christian Koloko.
The NBA just medically cleared him to play and he made his Lakers debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on the road on Nov. 6 when AD was unavailable to play.
It was reported that Koloko would play more with the South Bay Lakers as he began ramping up for NBA play, given that he missed an entire season due to his blood clot issue. However, all these injuries have meant he's been needed on the main team.
No injury is good, but at least Hayes only suffered a sprain, so it's reasonable to believe he'll be back in a couple of weeks. Once he's given the okay to play, he should be good to go.
If he is ready after two weeks, he can return on Nov. 29, which is a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the final NBA Cup group stage game for the Lakers.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.