Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-double in Tuesday's return
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Ayton notched 12 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals over 27 minutes during Tuesday's 132-108 loss to Phoenix.
Facing the team he spent the first five seasons of his NBA career with as he returned from a two-game absence due to a sore elbow, Ayton delivered his 11th double-double of the season. Seven of those have come in his last 13 contests dating back to Nov. 14, a stretch in which he's averaging 14.8 points, 10.2 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting a stellar 75.0 percent from the floor.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Good to go for Tuesday
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Ayton (elbow) is available for Tuesday's game against the Suns.
Ayton was a full participant in Monday's practice and is set for a return following a two-game absence. He had averaged a double-double in his previous five games before going down with the elbow injury, so his presence should provide a boost for LA with Luka Doncic (leg) and Rui Hachimura (groin) sidelined.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Goes through practice
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Ayton (elbow) practiced in full Monday, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports.
Ayton has missed the past two games for the Lakers, but the big man appears close to a return. More clarity can be expected once the Lakers release their injury report Monday evening, but for now, Ayton can be considered questionable for Tuesday's game against the Suns.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Not playing Saturday
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Ayton (elbow) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Clippers, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
Ayton will end up missing a second consecutive game while working through left elbow soreness, and his next chance to play is Tuesday against the Suns. Jaxson Hayes should draw the start at center Saturday in Ayton's absence.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: No-go for Thursday
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Ayton has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Jazz due to left elbow soreness, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
Ayton's absence should mean more opportunities for Jaxson Hayes and Jarred Vanderbilt. Ayton's next chance to play will come Saturday against the Clippers.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Cruises to double-double
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Ayton ended Sunday's 116-114 win over Phoenix with 20 points (10-11 FG, 0-2 FT), 13 rebounds, one block and two steals across 30 minutes.
Ayton paced the Lakers on the boards in the victory, recording his second double-double over his last three games. He's been a solid presence as a scorer and at the rim over his last eight appearances, averaging 14.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-doubles in win
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Ayton ended Sunday's 112-108 win over Philadelphia with 14 points (7-7 FG), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 31 minutes.
Ayton went perfect from the field for the first time this season and has been on a tear offensively. In his last six games, Ayton averages 14.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.7 blocks across 30.3 minutes, shooting a staggering 73.6 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Ayton supplied 14 points (7-7 FG), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 31 minutes during Sunday's 112-108 win over the 76ers.
Ayton went perfect from the field and cruised to a double-double with a strong showing on the boards. This marks his first double-double of the month and his ninth through 21 appearances this season. He's averaging 12.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks through four December matchups.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Omitted from injury report
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Ayton (knee) is off the injury report for Monday's game against the Suns, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
After leaving Sunday's win over the Pelicans due to right knee soreness, Ayton is good to go Monday and shouldn't have any restrictions. The star big man has averaged 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 29.5 minutes per tilt across 17 games this season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Exits early Sunday
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Ayton exited Sunday's game against the Pelicans and did not return due to right knee soreness, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
Ayton appeared to be favoring his right knee, which is the same knee he has been experiencing discomfort in over the last week, before taking himself out of the game. The Lakers were sporting a comfortable lead, so it remains unclear if Ayton would have been able to return to the game had it been competitive. If he is forced to miss time, Jaxson Hayes figures to see an expanded role.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Will play vs. Dallas
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Ayton (knee) will play in Friday's game against the Mavericks, NBA reporter Marc Stein reports.
Ayton is returning from a one-game absence due to a knee issue. The star big man should have no limits on his playing time Friday. Ayton has averaged 16.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals in 27.8 minutes per game across his last nine appearances.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Probable to play Friday
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Ayton (knee) is listed as probable for Friday's game against the Mavericks, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
Ayton has missed the Lakers' last two games due to a right knee contusion. It appears the eighth-year center is on track to play Friday, and Ayton's return would likely send Jaxson Hayes back to the bench. Across nine games in November, Ayton has averaged 16.0 points on 74.7 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals over 27.8 minutes per game.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Won't return Sunday
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Ayton (knee) won't return to Sunday's game against the Jazz, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Ayton sustained a right knee contusion in the first half and won't return in the second. He'll finish with two points (1-2 FG), three rebounds and one steal in 13 minutes. Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber are candidates for increased minutes the rest of the way. Ayton's next chance to play will come Tuesday against the Clippers.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Questionable to return Sunday
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Ayton is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jazz due to a right knee contusion, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
Ayton presumably sustained the knee injury in the first half, during which he posted two points (1-2 FG), three rebounds and one steal in 13 minutes. Jaxson Hayes started the second half in place of Ayton, though Maxi Kleber could also see increased run the rest of the way if Ayton is unable to return.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Not listed on injury report
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Ayton (illness) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game in Utah, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Ayton did not participate in Saturday's practice due to an illness, but that won't stop him from taking the floor for Sunday's game in Utah. The big man is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game on the season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Battling through illness
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Ayton did not participate in Saturday's practice due to an illness, but he will travel with the Lakers ahead of Sunday's game against the Jazz, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Ayton can be considered questionable for Sunday's contest, and his status will become more clear when he goes through morning shootaround and pregame warmups. Ayton's absence would likely lead to Jaxson Hayes entering the Lakers' starting five, and Maxi Kleber would be in line for more minutes off the bench. Over his last eight games, Ayton has averaged 17.8 points on 75.3 percent shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 steals over 29.6 minutes per game, and he has registered a double-double in three consecutive outings.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Drops monster double-double in win
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Ayton finished Tuesday's 140-126 win over the Jazz with 20 points (10-13 FG, 0-2 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 30 minutes.
Ayton has now put up 20 points in three straight contests, and he benefited from the return of LeBron James (sciatica) with easy baskets. Ayton is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks across 30.4 minutes this season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Perfect from field in loss
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Ayton registered 11 points (5-5 FG, 1-1 FT) and five rebounds over 20 minutes during Saturday's 122-102 loss to Atlanta.
Ayton came up short of recording what would've been a third straight double-double, and this five-rebound haul was his second-worst output of the campaign. Ayton is not going to be a go-to option on offense any time soon for the Lakers, but the big man is making the most of his touches. As long as he can continue to crash the glass and remain serviceable on offense, he should have some decent upside, especially since he'll eventually play alongside LeBron James (nerve) and Luka Doncic together, a scenario that could increase his possibilities near the rim, either as a lob threat or as an outlier in attacks to the rim.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Second straight double-double
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Ayton closed Wednesday's 118-116 win over the Spurs with 22 points (9-13 FG, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two blocks and one steal across 33 minutes.
The double-double was Ayton's second straight since returning from a one-game absence due to back spasms, and his fourth of the season in eight contests. The 27-year-old center is averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 boards, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists to begin his first season with the Lakers, and his rebounding numbers should tick up as the campaign progresses -- Ayton has never failed to average a double-double in the NBA since being drafted first overall by the Suns in 2018.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-doubles in win
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Ayton finished with 29 points (14-19 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists across 31 minutes in Monday's 123-115 win over the Trail Blazers.
Ayton returned to action after missing Sunday's win over Miami due to back spasms and delivered an extremely efficient performance. With Luka Doncic (finger), Austin Reaves (groin) and LeBron James (sciatica) sidelined, Ayton finished as the Lakers' leading scorer, securing his second outing with at least 20 points through seven regular-season appearances. The big man also grabbed a game-high mark in rebounds en route to his third double-double of the campaign. The 27-year-old was productive on the defensive end against one of his former teams as well, chipping in a game- and season-best three blocks.
