Ayton (back) isn't listed on the injury report for Friday's game against Brooklyn.
Ayton wasn't able to suit up Wednesday due to back soreness, but he's able to avoid the injury report for Friday's matchup. The big man is averaging 10.7 points and 7.8 rebounds over 12 March appearances.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Ruled out Wednesday
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Ayton (back) has been downgraded to out for Wednesday's game against the Pacers, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.
Ayton was a late addition to the Lakers' injury report Wednesday morning due to back soreness. The issue will prevent the veteran big man from suiting up, which will likely allow Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt to step into larger roles. Ayton's next chance to play will come Friday against Brooklyn.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Questionable for Wednesday
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Ayton (back) is questionable for Wednesday against Indiana.
Ayton was a very late addition to the injury report, though his injury is being described as soreness, which sounds minor. Given the opponent, the Lakers may be contemplating a maintenance day here. If Ayton is held out, Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt would likely be more involved for the Lakers.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-doubles in loss
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Ayton posted 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes during Monday's 113-110 loss to the Pistons.
Ayton led the Lakers in rebounding and finished as the team's third-leading scorer behind Luka Doncic (32 points) and Austin Reaves (24 points). Tuesday marked Ayton's 21st double-double of the season and fourth in 17 games since the All-Star break. Over that 17-game span, he has averaged 10.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 blocks over 25.8 minutes per game.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Grabs 11 rebounds in victory
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Ayton amassed seven points (3-6 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one block and one steal over 27 minutes during Monday's 100-92 victory over the Rockets.
Although his scoring was successfully contained, Ayton had a clear advantage on the glass due to Alperen Sengun (back) being out of commission. The result snapped a short double-double streak that Ayton was building, which was aided by a five-game average of 10.0 rebounds per game.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Second straight double-double
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Ayton registered 23 points (10-13 FG, 3-6 FT), 10 rebounds and one assist in 37 minutes during Thursday's 142-130 victory over the Bulls.
The double-double was Ayton's second straight, and his 20th of the season -- a mark he's reached in all eight of his NBA seasons. A sore knee has been costing Ayton court time since the All-Star break, and over his last 11 appearances, the 27-year-old center is averaging 10.2 points, 7.7 boards and 1.1 combined blocks and steals in 24.2 minutes.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Bounces back with double-double
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Ayton ended with 14 points (7-11 FG, 0-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Tuesday's 120-106 win over the Timberwolves.
Ayton has suffered through some poor totals recently, but he returned to form against one of the most imposing frontcourt duos in the league during the convincing win. With Jaxson Hayes (back) out of commission, Ayton logged 34 minutes and played great defense under the basket, limiting the duo of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert to just 17 points.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Considered day-to-day
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that Ayton -- who has already been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pacers -- is considered "day-to-day" due to left knee soreness, Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ayton saw the floor for just four minutes in Thursday's loss to Denver and picked up a left knee injury. The good news for the veteran big man is that he avoided a serious injury, so he could be available as soon as Sunday against the Knicks. Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt should see a significant bump in minutes due to Ayton's absence Friday, and Drew Timme -- who has been in the G League for the South Bay Lakers of late -- could also see some NBA action.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Ruled out Friday
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Ayton (knee) will not play Friday against the Pacers.
Ayton left Thursday's game against Denver due to left knee soreness and was unable to return. The severity of the issue isn't known, but it's not a surprise to see the team exercise caution. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes could see a bump in minutes with this news.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Dealing with knee soreness
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Ayton left Thursday's game against Denver due to left knee soreness, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
It appears that Ayton was able to avoid a serious injury. He'll presumably be re-evaluated Friday to determine his status for the second half of a back-to-back Friday against the Pacers.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Picks up knee injury
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Ayton won't return to Thursday's game against Denver due to a knee injury, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports. He'll end the night with two rebounds in five minutes.
The severity of Ayton's injury is unclear at this time. Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Ayton's place and will presumably be leaned on heavily during the final two periods of play.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Goes to locker room
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Ayton went to the locker room during the second quarter of Thursday's game against the Nuggets for an undisclosed reason, Khobi Price of The California Post reports.
It's not clear whether Ayton picked up an injury, but he wasn't sitting on the bench in the final few minutes of the first half. He can be considered questionable to return until more information surfaces.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Rights ship Tuesday
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Ayton finished Tuesday's 110-101 victory over New Orleans with 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks across 25 minutes.
Ayton's recent struggles have become well-documented, but he put together a solid stat line Tuesday. The veteran big man has averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 21.3 minutes per game over his past four outings, though he remains locked into a starting role at center for the Lakers.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Ineffective in narrow loss
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Ayton recorded two points (1-3 FG), four rebounds and one steal over 23 minutes during Thursday's 113-110 loss to the Suns.
Ayton finished with his lowest point total of the season during the loss and suffered through one of his lowest rebound totals of the season. Jaxson Hayes proved to be the better option under the basket against the Suns, and he could be in line for more time now that his ankle injury has healed. Although most of the Lakers' first unit is set, the center position will remain a point of concern.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-double in Tuesday's loss
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Ayton chipped in 21 points (8-11 FG, 5-5 FT), 13 rebounds and one steal over 32 minutes during Tuesday's 110-109 loss to Orlando.
The double-double was his 18th of the season, but his first in February as he tries to get past a nagging knee issue. Through seven appearances on the month, Ayton is averaging just 10.6 points, 8.0 boards, 0.9 assists and 1.2 combined blocks and steals in 27.7 minutes a contest, but Tuesday's performance is an encouraging sign that he could be close to 100 percent healthy.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Considered day-to-day
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Ayton (knee), who has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Dallas, is being considered day-to-day, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
All signs point to Ayton being cleared for a return after the All-Star break. The big man was sent for imaging to rule out a significant injury, and the results came back clean, per Dan Woike of The Athletic. Ayton will have just over another week to recover and rehab before the Lakers face off against the Clippers on Feb. 20.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Questionable for Thursday
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Ayton (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Dallas.
Ayton sat out Tuesday's loss to the Spurs and could miss a second consecutive contest ahead of the All-Star break due to right knee soreness. If the big man is unable to play Thursday, Jaxson Hayes would likely get the starting nod, while Maxi Kleber and Drew Timme would be candidates for increased playing time off the bench.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Ruled out Tuesday
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Ayton (knee) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Spurs, Khobi Price of the California Post reports.
Ayton will miss his second outing in a three-game span due to right knee soreness, and his final opportunity to suit up before the All-Star break will come Thursday against Dallas. With the big man sidelined, Jaxson Hayes will likely get the starting nod, while Maxi Kleber and Drew Timme are candidates for increased playing time.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Iffy for Tuesday
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Ayton is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against San Antonio due to right knee soreness, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ayton started and played 29 minutes in the opening leg of the Lakers' back-to-back set Monday. He's at risk of missing the closing end of the two-game set due to a lingering knee injury. If he doesn't play Tuesday, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber and Drew Timme would see an increase in playing time.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Good to go Monday
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Ayton (knee) is good to go Monday against the Thunder.
Ayton is set to return to action after being a late scratch Saturday against the Thunder. With Luka Doncic (hamstring) sidelined, Ayton could see a short-term boost in usage.