<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-playoff-benching-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on playoff benching vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_1488.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on playoff benching vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-01T00:30:44-07:00">May 1st, 12:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-01T08:38:26-07:00">May 1st, 8:38am</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-fans-lose-it-brutal-game-5-elimination-loss-timberwolves">Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated</a> from the opening round of the NBA Playoffs following their 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5. One of the biggest developments of the series was the reduced role for Lakers’ starting center Jaxson Hayes and <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1917754528956571771" rel="noopener">his ultimate benching</a> in Game 5.</p><p>Following the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves, Jaxson Hayes spoke about his playoff benching and the team’s elimination, as well as what his conversations with head coach JJ Redick were like amid the decision.</p><p>“It just doesn’t feel real. I feel like we had a great team coming along. After the All-Star break I feel like we started really clicking a lot, it just doesn’t really feel real,” Hayes said. “They told me, they were up straight with me, and saying just to stay ready. That they were gonna try some other things out. That was the coach’s decision and you got to respect that always.”</p><p>The move to permanent small-ball began in throughout the series with Hayes’ minutes slowly decreasing with each game. During the Lakers’ Game 4 loss, he did not play the entire second half as Redick opted to go with Dorian Finney-Smith in the lineup.</p><p>Hayes’ played eight, nine and nine minutes respectively in Games 1-3, four minutes in Game 4, and none in Game 5. Maxi Kleber, who had not played for the Lakers since coming over in the Luka Doncic trade as he recovered from injury, surpassed Hayes in the rotation for Game 5.</p><p>During the regular season, Hayes was somewhat of a revelation for the Lakers especially after Anthony Davis was traded, decimating their already shaky frontcourt depth. Following the trade for Doncic, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-luka-doncic-jaxson-hayes-growth">Hayes developed strong chemistry with the Lakers’ new star</a> as a lob threat.</p><p>Prior to the playoffs, Hayes appeared in 56 games, including 35 starts, at a little over 19 minutes per game. He shook off an early season ankle injury and averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 72.2 percent shooting from the field and 62.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Hayes will enter unrestricted free agency this coming offseason after playing two years with the Lakers, and he hasn’t quite yet thought about what the future might bring.</p><p>“I really haven’t been thinking about that at all. Just been focused on this playoff series and stuff,” Hayes said. “I haven’t even had time to process that yet, so we’ll see.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on playoff benching vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-brutally-honest-trade-off-jaxson-hayes-benching');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on ‘trade-off’ that led to Jaxson Hayes benching');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/JJ-Redick-2.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on ‘trade-off’ that led to Jaxson Hayes benching</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-30T23:03:55-07:00">April 30th, 11:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-01T09:01:10-07:00">May 1st, 9:01am</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-fans-lose-it-brutal-game-5-elimination-loss-timberwolves">Los Angeles Lakers’ season is officially over</a> after a crushing 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home in Game 5 of the first round. Los Angeles was in each of the last four games late into the fourth quarter, but a lack of execution on offense doomed them in three of them and eventually led to their elimination.</p><p>One of the biggest storylines during the series was the Lakers’ decision to go with a small lineup for most of the series, putting starting center Jaxson Hayes on the bench. Hayes didn’t eclipse 10 minutes in each of the first four games and didn’t see any playing time in Game 5.</p><p>After the game, head coach JJ Redick <a href="https://x.com/ohnohedidnt24/status/1917808903099654559" rel="noopener">talked about the reason</a> that Hayes couldn’t get on the court.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">JJ:</p><p>"Play a center. We couldn't score. There's a trade-off to everything" <a href="https://t.co/sVcbOrKxOh">pic.twitter.com/sVcbOrKxOh</a></p><p>— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) <a href="https://twitter.com/ohnohedidnt24/status/1917808903099654559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“There’s always a trade-off,” Redick said. “We couldn’t score. So there’s a trade-off to everything.”</p><p>In hindsight, the decision to bench Jaxson Hayes backfired on Redick. The Lakers struggled to rebound throughout the series and especially in Game 5, where Wolves center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/timberwolves-news-rudy-gobert-career-night-lakers">Rudy Gobert finished with a 27-point, 24-rebound double-double</a> to help send the Lakers home.</p><p>In the end, the Lakers were just too small and too shallow on the bench to compete with a Timberwolves team that has a lot of size and several quality bench players. Los Angeles consistently got tired at the end of games and gassed out down the stretch, causing a lot of missed shots and bad possessions on the offensive end in the closing minutes.</p><p>On the other end, the Timberwolves were quicker to loose balls and made more hustle plays to pull out the wins.</p><p>The Lakers now head into a murky offseason that will be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-lebron-james-ducks-retirement-question-game-5-loss-i-dont-know">clouded by LeBron James retirement talk</a> until he makes a final decision one way or another. However, it’s clear that Redick and the rest of the decision makers for the Purple and Gold have a lot of work to do to round this roster around Luka Doncic and potentially James if they want to see a different result a year from now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on ‘trade-off’ that led to Jaxson Hayes benching

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-jaxson-hayes-drops-huge-luka-doncic-declaration-after-suns-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes drops huge Luka Doncic declaration after Suns clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/unnamed-1_3ad582.jpg"></figure><h1>Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes drops huge Luka Doncic declaration after Suns clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-16T19:27:22-07:00">March 16th, 7:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-17T12:57:34-07:00">March 17th, 12:57pm</time><address><a>Daniel Locke</a>Daniel Locke covers the New Orleans Pelicans and is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints. He will graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Journalism in May. Daniel has covered Auburn Athletics for the entirety of his time as a student, focusing on football, men's basketball, and baseball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a 107-96 win over the Phoenix Suns at home on Sunday afternoon, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-austin-reaves-eye-opening-take-on-playing-with-luka-doncic-after-win-vs-suns">snapping their four-game losing streak</a>. Lakers center Jaxson Hayes <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1901441716080824587" rel="noopener">praised star point guard</a> Luka Doncic after the game.</p><p>“Man, that’s the best point guard in the league, so I trust he’s going to find me every time I get open. My job is to get him open as well. It’s like a relationship; you’ve both got to contribute something,” Hayes said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.</p><p>Doncic led all scorers with 33 points, adding 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals while shooting 13-of-14 from the free-throw line. Hayes had a solid showing himself, recording 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists while shooting 8-of-10 from the field.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-jj-redick-luka-doncic-orders-with-lebron-james-out">Doncic has been a phenomenal addition</a> for the Lakers, particularly in the absence of LeBron James due to injury. The Lakers return to action on Monday when they host the San Antonio Spurs at 7:30 p.m. PT.</p><h2><b>Are the Lakers </b>figuring things out?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/unnamed-2_34a1e9.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Los Angeles Lakers have had a roller coaster of a season but are trending in the right direction. Lakers head coach JJ Redick thinks the team is on its way to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/03/16/lakers-end-losing-streak-lebron-james/82472446007/" rel="noopener">playing at the level it needs to</a> defensively.</p><p>“I think it starts there,” Redick said via USA Today. “I do believe we need to be whole for that to happen. Just the nature of our roster, it works when everybody’s out there, and I think that’s one thing.”</p><p>Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the Lakers’ best defenders, is confident the team will keep things going in the right direction.</p><p>“So we just got to continue to bring energy,” Redick said. “Luka, AR and, when LeBron get back, they going to have the ball in their hand most of the time. And we just got to be able to give energy, be the energy givers, make up shots and play defense.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes drops huge Luka Doncic declaration after Suns clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-when-will-rui-hachimura-jaxson-hayes-return-from-injuries');   ga('set', 'title', 'When will Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes return from their injuries?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/When-will-Rui-Hachimura-Jaxson-Hayes-return-from-their-injuries.jpg"></figure><h1>When will Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes return from their injuries?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-09T12:47:18-07:00">March 9th, 12:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-09T13:43:27-07:00">March 9th, 1:43pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-lebron-james-set-to-miss-1-2-weeks-groin-injury">Lakers are dealing with a list of injuries</a> to some of their key players as they go down the stretch of the season, and many are looking for updates.</p><p>Rui Hachimura suffered a knee injury at the end of February during the third quarter of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He went to the locker room after going up for a dunk and came down awkwardly. So far, Hachimura has missed five straight games, and head coach JJ Redick <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1898525434939081145" rel="noopener">offered an update</a> on his status via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.</p><p>“JJ Redick says Rui Hachimura is in his return to play protocol, but LAL won’t have another update on the forward for about another week,” McMenamin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Jaxson Hayes is dealing with a right knee contusion, and he missed the game against the Celtics. Redick noted that he <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1898524913096413295" rel="noopener">doesn’t think his injury is anything serious</a>.</p><p>“He said that the Lakers have been monitoring swelling in Hayes’ knee but hopes the center will be back soon. Redick did not name the starter in Hayes’ place,” McMenamin wrote.</p><p>By the looks of it, it sounds like Hayes will be back before Hachimura, and hopefully they can come back at full strength.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-invokes-2018-christmas-groin-pull-latest-injury-reaction">biggest injury for the Lakers right now is LeBron James</a>, who suffered a groin strain in their game against the Celtics and had to leave during the fourth quarter. Right now, it sounds like James <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1898772095259250693" rel="noopener">will be missing some time</a>, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>“Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss at least 1-to-2 weeks with a groin strain, sources tell ESPN. James will wait for the groin injury to calm down over the next 24 hours and receive another evaluation,” Charania wrote on X.</p><p>With the numerous injuries to the team, it will be up to Luka Doncic to carry most of the load.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

When will Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes return from their injuries?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-la-jaxson-hayes-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers hit with worrisome Jaxson Hayes injury update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1084.jpeg"></figure><h1>Lakers hit with worrisome Jaxson Hayes injury update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-07T23:00:57-08:00">March 7th, 11:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-07T23:00:57-08:00">March 7th, 11:00pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the Los Angeles <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-jeanie-buss-details-secretive-nature-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade">Lakers traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic</a>, while they were getting a franchise superstar, the prevailing thought was they still needed a starting caliber center. They thought they were getting one in Mark Williams, but that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/hornets-news-charlotte-breaks-silence-mark-williams-lakers-trade-rescinded">trade with the Charlotte Hornets was rescinded</a> due to concerns over Williams’ health. However, the answer to the Lakers’ center conundrum might have been Jaxson Hayes all along, which is why his potential injury could be a major blow.</p><p>Jaxson Hayes appeared on the Lakers’ injury report <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1898204935336104103" rel="noopener">ahead of their huge showdown</a> on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. Hayes appeared to suffer the injury scare <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1897887976190808181" rel="noopener">late in overtime</a> during the Lakers’ win against the New York Knicks.</p><p>Hayes was fouled and hit the floor for a moment, before eventually getting up gingerly and sinking both free-throws to give the Lakers a 109-107 lead they would not relinquish. With the Lakers looking to continue their eight-game win streak against their rival Celtics, Hayes is officially listed as questionable with a right knee contusion.</p><p>If Hayes is unable to play against the Celtics, the Lakers are thin when it comes to frontcourt depth. Their best option off the bench, Trey Jemison, is on a two-way contract. Veteran big man Alex Len was signed for insurance, and is a spot minute player at best.</p><p>They could also opt to go small with someone like Jarred Vanderbilt moving into the starting lineup. Christian Koloko, who has shown flashes this season of being a capable rotation center, is currently in the G League with the South Bay Lakers as part of his two-way contract assignment. It’s possible that if Hayes’ injury lingers, Koloko could be recalled to the main club.</p><p>Much has been written about the Lakers’ need for a starting center, even when Davis was still on the team. Davis had let it be known that he wanted the team to pair him up with another center, replicating the success the team had during their 2020 championship run.</p><p>But since the trade deadline, Hayes has been the answer on both ends of the court. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-luka-doncic-jaxson-hayes-growth">Hayes has developed a strong rapport with Luka Doncic</a> in the pick and roll. In the Lakers’ win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, he scored a season-high 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting, mostly off lobs from Doncic.</p><p>And on the defensive end, he’s been a steady anchor. He currently holds the team’s fourth-best defensive rating (110.9) behind only Vanderbilt, Doncic and Jordan Goodwin.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers hit with worrisome Jaxson Hayes injury update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-jaxson-hayes-growth');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Luka Doncic has been impressed with Jaxson Hayes’ rapid growth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_1337.jpeg"></figure><h1>Why Luka Doncic has been impressed with Jaxson Hayes’ rapid growth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-05T16:06:38-08:00">March 5th, 4:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-05T16:59:15-08:00">March 5th, 4:59pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – Since the offseason, it’s been no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers were searching for a starting caliber center, even when Anthony Davis was still on the team. Before the blockbuster trade, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-anthony-davis-doubles-down-center-addition-request-front-office">Davis made it clear that he wanted a center</a> alongside him in the lineup. But with the arrival of Luka Doncic, it appears that the Lakers had the answer at center all along with Jaxson Hayes.</p><p>With the departure of Davis, Jaxson Hayes has slotted into the Lakers’ starting lineup at center and has developed a strong chemistry in the pick and roll with Luka Doncic. It’s fitting that the duo has finally ended up as teammates considering that the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43764432/inside-most-chaotic-transformational-nba-trade-deadline-los-angeles-lakers-history-lebron-james-luka-doncic" rel="noopener">Mavericks tried to trade for Hayes multiple times</a> due to his fit alongside Doncic as a lob threat, as per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.</p><p>During the Lakers’ 136-115 win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, Hayes scored a season-high 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting, with quite a few of those shots coming from Doncic lob passes. Following the game, Doncic spoke about his developing chemistry with Hayes and how impressive the big man has been.</p><p>“It’s good. You see that the first couple of games, we still had to get the feel for each other, know where he’s going to be,” Doncic said. “And I think it’s getting better. And he’s really good at reading those situations. If the guy behind me is inside the screen and goes over, he slips that. He’s fast for a center, he gets open looks.”</p><p>Last season, the Mavericks surrounded Doncic with lob threats at the center position in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. With his ability to read and draw the defense and make lob passes, mobile big men will have success playing alongside Doncic.</p><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes as Lakers’ starting center</b></h2><p>It’s not just on the offensive end that Hayes has been making a huge impact for the Lakers. Defensively, he’s provided the team with a rim protector in the absence of Davis. Hayes currently holds the <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/lakers-players-defensive-ratings-2024-2025" rel="noopener">fourth best defensive rating</a> (110.9) on the team behind only Jarred Vanderbilt, Doncic and Jordan Goodwin, as per StatMuse.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-breaks-silence-troublesome-ankle-injury">Hayes suffered an ankle injury</a> earlier this season that sidelined him for 21 out of 22 games, but he’s since made a strong return as one of the team’s most dependable role players.</p><p>Overall Hayes has appeared in 39 games this season, with 18 starts, at a little over 18 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots with splits of 71.8 percent shooting from the field and 72.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>The Lakers tried to upgrade their center position at the deadline with the failed trade for Mark Williams, but that deal being rescinded may have been a blessing in disguise. Hayes has come on strong since Doncic has joined the team, and he’s solidified his role as the starting center.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Luka Doncic has been impressed with Jaxson Hayes’ rapid growth

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-jazz-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers lose Jaxson Hayes for rest of Jazz game with facial injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jaxson-Hayes-to-miss-time-after-suffering-ankle-injury-at-practice.jpg"></figure><h1>Lakers lose Jaxson Hayes for rest of Jazz game with facial injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-12T19:56:17-08:00">February 12th, 7:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-12T20:26:55-08:00">February 12th, 8:26pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the Los Angeles Lakers’ first game with Luka Doncic in the lineup, it looked like they might have found a temporary answer to the starting center question. On multiple possessions, Doncic found Jaxson Hayes lurking near the rim for lob passes. But injury misfortune struck the Lakers once again during their game against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, as Jaxson Hayes exited early <a href="https://x.com/LakersReporter/status/1889875443702178289" rel="noopener">due to a facial contusion</a>, as per Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet.</p><p>Jaxson Hayes’ injury occurred during the first half of the Lakers’ game against the Jazz. He had played seven minutes to that point and had four points, two rebounds, and one assist. More information will likely come sometime after the game, including what his prognosis is in terms of any potential missed games.</p><p>Hayes battled an ankle injury earlier this season that kept him sidelined for 21 games. Since his return to the lineup in early January, he’s been one of the team’s most consistent players on both ends of the court.</p><p>When <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-mark-cuban-breaks-silence-luka-doncic-trade">Doncic was traded to the Lakers</a>, he was finally able to team up with the center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-lebron-james-wonders-anthony-davis-center-replacement">he’d wanted to play with since Hayes was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans</a>. But this recent injury may put that pairing on a brief hiatus.</p><p>The Lakers have been searching for frontcourt help even before trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. They had a deal in place with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, but that trade was rescinded due to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/inside-failed-lakers-hornets-trade-mark-williams">the Lakers’ concerns over Williams’ long-term health</a>.</p><p>The Lakers recently welcomed Jarred Vanderbilt back from injury, and he fits JJ Redick’s style of small-ball. They also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-new-big-man-mark-williams-trade-fiasco">signed Alex Len as a backup</a> after waiving Christian Wood. Wood could have helped the Lakers in the frontcourt, but he had been sidelined since the start of the season due to injury recovery.</p><p>Len made his Lakers debut on Wednesday against the Jazz, and through three quarters of play, he had three rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers lose Jaxson Hayes for rest of Jazz game with facial injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-breaks-silence-troublesome-ankle-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on troublesome ankle injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1084.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on troublesome ankle injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-03T19:32:32-08:00">January 3rd, 7:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-03T19:32:32-08:00">January 3rd, 7:32pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers squared off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, they welcomed a familiar face back in the lineup. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-anthony-davis-downgraded-on-injury-report-blazers">Anthony Davis out due to injury</a>, Jaxson Hayes stepped into the Lakers’ lineup as he made his return from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for 21 0f the last 22 games.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-major-injury-update-cavs-clash">Jaxson Hayes was actually cleared to return</a> to the Lakers’ lineup from injury during their Dec. 31 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He did not play, however, but when Davis was sidelined, he stepped right in and <a href="https://x.com/vkillem/status/1875303385169326390" rel="noopener">made a big impact</a> on both ends of the court.</p><p>Following the Lakers’ 114-106 win against the Blazers, Hayes spoke about the mental toll in recovering from the ankle injury.</p><p>“The past month has definitely been a little hard, it’s probably the longest I’ve ever been out in my career,” Hayes said. “But just rehabbing every day. . .then getting stationary shots for like a week and a half, and then finally got to start doing actual workouts. And then just conditioning every day. I’m still out of shape, but I’m gonna get there.</p><p>The Lakers have needed since from the get-go as both Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt have been sidelined due to injury and have yet to make their 2024-25 season debut. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-impact-la-frontcourt-injuries">Hayes began the season making a major impact</a> off the bench as the team’s backup center.</p><p>But he suffered the ankle injury during practice ahead of the Lakers’ Nov. 13 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He intially missed six games before returning to the lineup against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 26. But he ended up re-aggravating the same injury in that game, and it kept him out for 15 games after that.</p><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes impact for Lakers</b></h2><p>Against the Blazers, a team with plenty of size in the frontcourt with Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan, the Lakers needed Hayes on the court. And he responded in a big way. He finished with four points, six rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot in 18 minutes.</p><p>Four of Hayes’ rebounds were on the offensive end, keeping possessions alive for the Lakers. His points came off ball-movement, rolling on the pick and roll and making himself available for the pass.</p><p>Following the game, Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick spoke about the importance of Hayes’ return to the lineup.</p><p>“There’s a testament and example there for just being a professional and staying ready,” Redick said. “Jaxson was available the other night for the first time in a month, and he got a DNP, and then a game later he’s starting and making a huge impact.</p><p>On the season, Hayes has appeared in 12 games, including two starts, at a little over 17 minutes per game. He has been averaging 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds with splits of 70 percent shooting from the field and 78.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Hayes acknowledged that he still has work to do to get back into true game shape as he was earlier in the season, but he’s glad to be back and helping his teammates.</p><p>“It’s just harder to stay in shape because obviously game shape is different. . .that’s all running and jumping, side to side, non-stop for five minutes, then you get a break. It’s just a different type of intensity with conditioning off the court and then game conditioning,” Hayes said. “The most difficult part for me was just not being able to be out there with the guys. That’s been a huge thing for me, just getting back around the team, having that camaraderie again.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes breaks silence on troublesome ankle injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jarred-vanderbilt-jaxson-hayes-positive-injury-updates');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes get positive injury updates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lakers-news-Jarred-Vanderbilt-Jaxson-Hayes-get-positive-injury-updates-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes get positive injury updates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-30T15:45:51-08:00">December 30th, 3:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-30T15:45:51-08:00">December 30th, 3:45pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers have found their groove back after a 117-114 upset loss in Hollywood last Monday at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. Since then, Los Angeles has gone 2-0, with back-to-back victories over the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day (115-113) and over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday (132-122).</p><p>The Lakers pulled off that pair of wins <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jarred-vanderbilt-injury-debacle-force-rob-pelinka-trade-trigger">without the services of big men Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt.</a> Los Angeles also did not have four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James in the Sacramento game.</p><h2><b>Lakers give updates on Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes ahead of Cavaliers game</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jaxson-Hayes-fired-up.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>On Monday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1873833220204273752" rel="noopener">provided some positive injury updates</a> on Hayes and Vanderbilt (h/t<br>Dave McMenamin of ESPN).</p><p><i>“Gabe Vincent (hip) did not practice today, per JJ Redick. Redick added that Jaxson Hayes (ankle) is probable to play for the first time since late November. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot injuries) also participated in the non-contact portion of practice.”</i></p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-major-injury-update-cavs-clash">Hayes has missed all of the Lakers’ last 14 games</a>, while Vanderbilt has yet to make his 2024-25 NBA season debut. Los Angeles could certainly use some depth in the frontcourt to help lighten the load on the shoulders of Anthony Davis and James. So far in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, Hayes has averaged 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks through just 11 games.</p><p>Vanderbilt, on the other hand, put up 5.2 points, 4.8 boards, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks across 29 games in the 2023-24 campaign for Los Angeles. He underwent multiple surgeries in the offseason to address his injuries on both feet.  That’s not to mention the continued absence of another LA big man in Christian Wood who has not seen action yet this season.</p><p>However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-why-lakers-comfortable-pulling-trigger-dangelo-russell-trade-now">Lakers did make a move to address their thin frontcourt by trading for versatile forward Dorian Finney-Smith</a>. The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith along with Shake Milton over the weekend in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and some future picks.</p><p>Finney-Smith can fast-track his learning curve with the Lakers while Hayes and Vanderbilt are sidelined with injuries. While it can take some time before he familiarizes himself with a new environment, Finney-Smith could potentially see ample playing time for LA in the early goings of his stint with the Purple &amp; Gold, including this coming Tuesday’s date with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes get positive injury updates

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-major-injury-update-cavs-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes gets major injury update for Cavs clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1084.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes gets major injury update for Cavs clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-28T21:12:42-08:00">December 28th, 9:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-28T21:12:42-08:00">December 28th, 9:12pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers’ frontcourt has been depleted this season due to injuries with Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt having yet to make their 2024-25 season debut. Back in November, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-suffers-ankle-injury-during-practice">Jaxson Hayes was added to the Lakers’ injury report</a> after suffering an ankle injury in practice.</p><p>Jaxson Hayes initially made a return to the Lakers’ lineup on Nov. 26 against the Phoenix Suns, but ended up re-aggravating the ankle injury in that game and was sidelined once again. In total, Hayes has missed 20 of the Lakers’ last 21 games.</p><p>But help could be on the way soon. Hayes was upgraded to available for the Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Although he will not play against the Kings, if everything goes well he will be <a href="https://x.com/mcten/status/1873194669154419058" rel="noopener">back in the lineup</a> for the Lakers’ New Year’s Eve game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.</p><p>Hayes has progressed to five-on-five contact during practice. Having him back in the lineup will be a major boost for the Lakers. With the frontcourt injuries, Lakers head coach JJ Redick had been using two-way contract player Christian Koloko in reserve center minutes before opting to go with small-ball in recent games.</p><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes impact for Lakers this season</b></h2><p>Before being sidelined with the ankle injury, Jaxson Hayes was a key part of the Lakers’ rotation. With Wood and Vanderbilt unable to play, Hayes was staking his claim as the Lakers’ primary backup center behind Anthony Davis.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-impact-la-frontcourt-injuries">Hayes’ impact for the Lakers</a> was mostly his off-ball movement and defensive ability. Hayes’ mobility allows him to be more effective on switching on the perimeter and being able to stay in front of guards and wings at times. And offensively, he was doing well diving and cutting the rim and being active around the basket.</p><p>The sixth-year big man has appeared in 11 games for the Lakers so far, at a little over 17 minutes per game. He had been averaging 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds with splits of 72.2 percent shooting from the field and 78.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Hayes’ free-throw percentage is a career-high.</p><p>He’s in second season with the team after signing as a free agent in the 2023 offseason. Prior to that, Hayes has spent the first four years of his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans drafted him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.</p><p>Hayes signed a two-year contract with the Lakers in 2023 and exercised his player option for this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes gets major injury update for Cavs clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/jaxson-hayes-christian-wood-get-key-injury-update-per-jj-redick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood get key injury update, per JJ Redick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1131.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood get key injury update, per JJ Redick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T20:22:37-08:00">December 23rd, 8:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T20:22:37-08:00">December 23rd, 8:22pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers came into the 2024-25 season <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jarred-vanderbilt-gets-important-updated-injury-timeline">short-handed in the frontcourt as both Jarred Vanderbilt</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-reveals-christian-wood-injury-setback">Christian Wood were sidelined due to injury</a>. Both players have yet to make their season debuts. Unfortunately for the Lakers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-worrisome-injury-update-jj-redick">Jaxson Hayes joined them on the sidelines with an ankle injury</a>. Sometimes the news is there is no news and that was the case, as per Lakers head coach JJ Redick.</p><p>According to JJ Redick, there is <a href="https://x.com/jovanbuha/status/1871377060830347386" rel="noopener">no current injury update</a> regarding either Jaxson Hayes or Christian Wood, as per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Redick’s comments took place during his pregame media availability ahead of the Lakers’ game against the Detroit Pistons. He was not asked about Vanderbilt.</p><p>With the Lakers’ main frontcourt depth all sidelined, they’ve been relying on two-way contract big man Christian Koloko. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-lakers-plans-decimated-center-position-behind-anthony-davis">Lakers have also reportedly been scouring the trade market</a> for frontcourt help.</p><p>In Hayes’ case, he began the season as the Lakers’ primary backup behind Anthony Davis, but he suffered an ankle injury back on Nov. 13 that sidelined him for six games. He returned to the lineup on Nov. 26 against the Phoenix Suns, but re-aggravated the injury and has now missed 12 straight games.</p><p>Prior to the injury, Hayes had been averaging 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds with splits of 72.2 percent shooting from the field and 78.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He was making an impact as a rim-rolling big as well as a being a defensive presence.</p><p>With Wood, his injury timeline goes back to last year when he missed the final 26 games of the 2023-24 regular season and was out for the playoffs as well due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery.</p><p>Before training camp began, Wood suffered a setback, needing another surgery on the same knee. Last season, his first in the purple and gold, Wood appeared in 50 games. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 46.6 percent shooting from the field, 30.7 percent shooting from the three-point line and 70.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Wood picked up his player option in the offseason rather than test unrestricted free agency, as did Hayes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood get key injury update, per JJ Redick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-worrisome-injury-update-jj-redick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes gets worrisome injury update from JJ Redick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1084.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes gets worrisome injury update from JJ Redick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T16:49:53-08:00">December 12th, 4:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T17:02:54-08:00">December 12th, 5:02pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Coming into the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers knew they were going to be short-handed in the frontcourt. Both Christian Wood and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jarred-vanderbilt-gets-important-updated-injury-timeline">Jarred Vanderbilt would be sidelined due to injury,</a> and both have yet to make their season debut. About two months into the regular season, the Lakers are also without <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-brutal-injury-blow">Jaxson Hayes, who has been battling an ankle injury</a>.</p><p>According to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the team <a href="https://3.basecamp.com/5767866/buckets/36793780/card_tables/cards/8123335231" rel="noopener">is not sure when</a> Jaxson Hayes will return from injury, as per Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation.</p><p>The update certainly isn’t very reassuring for Lakers fans, and it leaves the team incredibly thin in the frontcourt. In the meantime, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-lakers-plans-decimated-center-position-behind-anthony-davis">Lakers have been active in the trade market</a>, looking for additional frontcourt depth, as per ClutchPoints’ Lakers insider Anthony Irwin. They’ve been linked to a few center targets, such as Jonas Valanciunas and Walker Kessler.</p><p>Hayes began the season as the team’s backup center by default due to the injuries to Wood and Vanderbilt. In his absence, the team has relied on second-year center Christian Koloko, who is on a two-way contract.</p><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes’ importance to Lakers’ rotation</b></h2><p>Hayes originally signed with the Lakers as a free agent during the 2023 offseason. He signed a two-year contract with a player option after the first year, which he exercised this past offseason. He was playing behind Wood for the start of the 2023-24 season but saw his role increase when Wood went down in the second half of the year.</p><p>This season, though, Hayes was proving his worth as a rim-running big who was active on the defensive end of the court. There have been a couple of instances this season where <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-impact-la-frontcourt-injuries">Redick has praised Hayes as being a major difference-maker</a> in a win.</p><p>He has appeared in 11 games so far, including one start, at a little over 17 minutes per game. He had been averaging 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds with splits of 72.2 percent shooting from the field and 78.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Hayes initially suffered the ankle injury during practice right before the Lakers’ Nov. 13 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He ended up missing six games before making a return on Nov. 26 against the Phoenix Suns.</p><p>He re-aggravated that same ankle injury late in the game against the Suns and has been sidelined since. He’s missed seven more games, and there’s no timetable for how many more he might miss. Barring a trade, the Lakers are going to be thin in the frontcourt.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes gets worrisome injury update from JJ Redick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-brutal-injury-blow');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes dealt brutal injury blow');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jaxson-Hayes-dealt-brutal-injury-blow.jpg"></figure><h1>Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes dealt brutal injury blow</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-30T08:20:38-08:00">November 30th, 8:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-30T08:31:01-08:00">November 30th, 8:31am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers have been skidding over the past week or so, as they have lost four of their past five games to fall to 11-8 on the season. The team was hoping that they’d be able to get some reinforcements soon, with one guy closing in on a return being center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-suffers-ankle-injury-during-practice">Jaxson Hayes</a>. Instead, the team has been dealt a tough injury blow regarding Hayes.</p><p>Hayes has only <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-injury-update-suns-clash">played in one game</a> since November 10th due to a right ankle sprain, and he ended up missing Los Angeles’ past two games after he aggravated that injury. It turns out he actually <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1862891781404151853" rel="noopener">re-sprained the same ankle</a>, which will force him to miss another two-to-three weeks as he attempts to get himself healthy again.</p><p>“Lakers center Jaxson Hayes suffered a re-sprain of his right ankle and will miss two to three weeks, sources tell me and Dave McMenamin,” Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Saturday morning.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lakers center Jaxson Hayes suffered a re-sprain of his right ankle and will miss two to three weeks, sources tell me and <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mcten</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Qr8GRF3NLD">pic.twitter.com/Qr8GRF3NLD</a></p><p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1862891781404151853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes set to miss more time for Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jaxson-Hayes-fired-up.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>This is a pretty tough blow for the Lakers, as their frontcourt will remain shorthanded for the next couple of weeks with Hayes missing more time. Jarred Vanderbilt, who is really more of a power forward than a center, hasn’t played yet this season in addition to Hayes’ absence, which has forced Christian Koloko into a bigger role off the bench as the team’s second center.</p><p>Hayes has been solid for Los Angeles when he’s been on the court this season, as he’s averaging 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 72.2 percent shooting from the floor. Big man depth has always been a concern for this Lakers team, though, and with Hayes set to miss more time, they are going to be forced to piece together their frontcourt rotation again for however long he ends up missing.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes dealt brutal injury blow

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-injury-update-suns-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaxson Hayes’ crucial injury update ahead of Suns clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_1035.jpeg"></figure><h1>Jaxson Hayes’ crucial injury update ahead of Suns clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-25T20:57:19-08:00">November 25th, 8:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-25T20:57:19-08:00">November 25th, 8:57pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to get back in the win column after a two-game skid that came on the heels of a six-game win streak. They head out on the road for two games against the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, and they have reinforcements on the way. Backup center Jaxson Hayes <a href="https://x.com/Dave_Yapkowitz/status/1861214862611022131" rel="noopener">no longer appeared</a> on the Lakers’ injury report, paving the way for his return to the lineup.</p><p>Jaxson Hayes has missed the Lakers’ last five games as he’s been dealing with an ankle injury. His absence has put a bit of a strain on the Lakers’ depth in the frontcourt. Both Christian Wood and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jarred-vanderbilt-injury-update-la-road-trip">Jarred Vanderbilt have been sidelined due to injury</a> and have yet to make their 2024-25 season debut.</p><p>With the team down three frontcourt players, head coach JJ Redick has turned to Christian Koloko who is on a two-way contract. Koloko is in his second season and was recently cleared medically by the NBA to resume his career. He missed the entirety of last season due to a blood clot.</p><p>In addition to Vanderbilt and Wood who remain out, the Lakers will also be without Bronny James who has a heel injury, and Jalen Hood-Schifino who was assigned to the South Bay Lakers. Anthony Davis remains probable as he deals with plantar fasciitis.</p><p>The team has started out the season at 10-6 under Redick who is in his first year at the helm. Amid their injuries in the frontcourt, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-lakers-plans-decimated-center-position-behind-anthony-davis">Lakers have explored trade avenues for a potential center</a>.</p><h2><b>Jaxson Hayes’ importance to Lakers</b></h2><p>With the injuries to Wood and Vanderbilt, the Lakers have relied heavily on Hayes as the team’s backup center. And he’s done a solid job in his role.</p><p>Back on media day, Hayes spoke about working on his decision making with the ball in his hands playing in the short roll. But as the season has progressed, he’s thrived in more of his natural off-ball role. He’s been a screen-setter and rim-running big who has been efficient around the basket.</p><p>Redick has also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-impact-la-frontcourt-injuries">praised Hayes’ defensive activity</a>. The six-year big man is in his second season with the Lakers after signing as a free agent in the 2023 offseason.</p><p>Hayes has played in ten of the Lakers’ first 16 games, including one start, at a little over 17 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds with splits of 70.6 percent shooting from the field and 78.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes’ crucial injury update ahead of Suns clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-suffers-ankle-injury-during-practice');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes to miss time after suffering ankle injury at practice');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jaxson-Hayes-to-miss-time-after-suffering-ankle-injury-at-practice.jpg"></figure><h1>Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes to miss time after suffering ankle injury at practice</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-13T09:48:38-08:00">November 13th, 9:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-13T10:25:20-08:00">November 13th, 10:25am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes suffered a <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1856752748248928750" rel="noopener">left ankle injury</a> during the team’s practice on Tuesday. Upon further examination and imaging, he has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in approximately one to two weeks, the team said on Wednesday afternoon.</p><p>Hayes, 24, has arguably been the Lakers’ best performer off the bench this season. With Christian Wood yet to play this season and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jj-redick-reveals-christian-wood-injury-setback">recently suffering a setback in his injury recovery process</a>, Hayes has been Los Angeles’ primary backup option behind All-Star big man Anthony Davis.</p><p>In a total of 10 games, one of which he started when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-la-hit-with-major-anthony-davis-injury-concern-loss-pistons">Davis was dealing with a heel/foot injury</a>, Hayes has averaged 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 70.6 percent from the floor. Given his athleticism at the center position, Hayes has been on the receiving end of many lobs towards the rim offensively, an area he has thrived in since coming to the Lakers.</p><h2><b>Impact of Jaxson Hayes’ absence</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_0824.jpeg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Between crashing the glass and being able to slice through opposing defenses for easy scoring opportunities at the rim, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-impact-la-frontcourt-injuries">Hayes has been willing to do all the little things</a> to help Los Angeles win games.</p><p>“I’m just trying to find openings in the defense, force overs on my screens and just get behind the defense on my rolls,” Hayes said after the team’s latest victory over the Toronto Raptors. “And then I just try to look at spots where I could just sprint down the floor because I know my athleticism and my speed just keep of help me compared to most of the other bigs… So I know I got to beat them how I can which is my speed.”</p><p>Without Hayes, the Lakers are left extremely thin in their frontcourt. Christian Koloko is the only other big man on this roster, but he has only played a total of 15 minutes this season and is not in head coach JJ Redick’s nightly rotation. Rui Hachimura and LeBron James will likely see their minutes as “frontcourt options” increase alongside Davis.</p><p>Once again, the question of the Lakers’ big man depth will be tested. This was an issue a season ago, and the idea of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-2-centers-on-lakers-internal-trade-board">Los Angeles possibly looking to upgrade their roster in the frontcourt</a> has been notable since the offseason. Robert Williams III, Jonas Valanciunas, and Walker Kessler are a few centers around the league that have been mentioned in recent trade rumors.</p><p>At this time, there are no indications that the Lakers are actively engaged in trade conversations for another big man next to Davis. However, recent injury concerns surrounding Hayes and Wood may very well lead to the team addressing their depth before the trade deadline.</p><p>Further updates on Hayes’ status will be provided by the Lakers at a later time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaxson Hayes news

Jaxson
Hayes news