Los Angeles Lakers News

WESTERN PACIFIC

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Nears Double-Double In Game 3 Loss

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves posted 17 points, nine assists, and three rebounds in Saturday's 131-108 Game 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 27-year-old logged 39 minutes but had another uneven shooting night, going 5-for-13 from the field, 1-for-5 from three-point range, and committing five turnovers. Reaves has now scored eight, 31, and 17 points through three games in the series, with Oklahoma City taking a 3-0 lead after outscoring Los Angeles 74-49 in the second half. With Luka Doncic (hamstring) still sidelined, Reaves remains locked into heavy usage, even if the efficiency has been shaky.

Yesterday

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Facing Sweep With Game 4 on Monday

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James recorded 19 points (7-for-19 on field goals, 2-for-6 from three, 3-for-4 on free throws), eight assists, six rebounds, and one steal in 37 minutes during Saturday's 131-108 Game 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The four-time MVP has not asserted himself offensively against the defending champions, and the continued absence of Luka Doncic (hamstring) leaves Los Angeles with little margin for error. "I'm not angry or disappointed," James said postgame. "We've still got life... We've got to be much better on Monday." A loss in Game 4 would mark the fourth postseason sweep of James' career.

Yesterday

Jarred Vanderbilt • SF • Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt Active on Saturday Night

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) will suit up for Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. The 27-year-old suffered a nasty finger injury in the series opener but sat out only one game. Vanderbilt will bolster the Lakers' frontcourt depth, but it would be surprising to see him play a major role. So far in the playoffs, Vanderbilt has averaged 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He has been held to two or fewer points in three of six appearances.

Yesterday

Jarred Vanderbilt • SF • Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt Considered Questionable for Saturday

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 27-year-old dislocated his right pinky finger in the series opener and wasn't in the lineup for Game 2 on Thursday night. Luckily for the Lakers, Luke Kennard was available and led the second unit with 10 points in 26 minutes. Backup center Jaxson Hayes was the only other reserve to log more than 10 minutes, so Lakers head coach JJ Redick appears ready to lean heavily on his starters in this series. Even when active, Vanderbilt has played a limited role in the playoffs, averaging 12.0 minutes per game.

2 days ago

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Scores 31 Points in Game 2 Defeat

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves finished with 31 points, two rebounds, and six assists in 38 minutes during Thursday's Game 2 loss to Oklahoma City. He bounced back from an eight-point Game 1 dud, shooting 10-for-16 from the field while adding three three-pointers and eight free throws. The scoring and playmaking keep him firmly in DFS consideration, but the five turnovers add some risk. With Luka Doncic (hamstring) unlikely to return this round, Reaves and LeBron James will need to carry the offense, while Rui Hachimura remains a useful floor-spacing option.

3 days ago

Jarred Vanderbilt • SF • Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt Ruled Out for Game 2 Against Thunder

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) will sit out Thursday's Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was always unlikely to play after dislocating his right pinky finger in Game 1 and receiving a doubtful tag on the initial injury report. Vanderbilt has averaged 12.0 minutes per game in the playoffs, so he won't be a major loss for the Lakers. Jake LaRavia will likely pick up most of Vanderbilt's minutes and aim to make a bigger impact than in Game 1. On Tuesday night, LaRavia contributed only two points, one rebound, one block, and one steal in 14 minutes.

3 days ago

Luke Kennard • SG • Lakers

Luke Kennard Cleared to Play Thursday

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (neck) will be active on Thursday night in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was added to the injury report on Wednesday due to neck soreness, but his status has been upgraded from questionable to available. Kennard has been a positive surprise for the Lakers this postseason, averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per game. However, Kennard's three-point efficiency has fallen off a cliff in recent outings, as he has gone 2-for-10 over the last four games. The Duke product has to start making three-pointers again to provide more scoring for the team, behind LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

3 days ago

Luke Kennard • SG • Lakers

Luke Kennard Tagged as Questionable for Game 2 Against Thunder

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (neck) has picked up a questionable tag on the injury report before Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. After recording seven points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 29 minutes off the bench in Game 1, Kennard is dealing with neck soreness. The second unit already lost Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) to injury in Tuesday's series-opening loss, so the starters could face a massive workload on Thursday night if Kennard is also out. Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia, Bronny James Jr., and Dalton Knecht will be the primary bench options, but they can't be relied on for fantasy production.

4 days ago

Jarred Vanderbilt • SF • Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt Considered Doubtful for Thursday

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is listed as doubtful for Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The 27-year-old sustained a gruesome finger injury in Tuesday's series opener. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Vanderbilt is day-to-day, so he could still be an option in the series. Vanderbilt is averaging 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game this postseason. We will likely see Jake LaRavia handle a heavier workload if Vanderbilt misses time, but his fantasy value will remain limited.

4 days ago

Luka Dončić • PG • Lakers

Luka Doncic Reveals Recovery Timeline

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) revealed on Wednesday that he was initially given an eight-week recovery timeline, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. "The day I did the MRI on the hamstring, the doctor told me eight weeks [recovery] at the beginning," Doncic said. "I'm doing everything I can in the process, and I think we're on a good way. But at the beginning, he told me eight weeks." Thursday will mark five weeks to the day since Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Based on the initial timeline, Doncic still appears far from returning, but he has progressed to running. In an effort to speed up his recovery, Doncic underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) while overseas.

4 days ago

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Scores Game-High 27 Points in Tuesday's Loss

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night but ended up on the losing side. James had a superb 12-for-17 record from the field and finished 3-for-6 with the three-ball. But Austin Reaves was limited to just eight points, and the Lakers were no match for the defending champions in a 108-90 defeat. James completed his line with four rebounds, six assists, and one steal. The Lakers were impressive in the first-round series against Houston, but they will need everyone, including James, to elevate their game to match the Thunder. In his 19th postseason campaign, James is averaging 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.3 steals.

5 days ago

Jarred Vanderbilt • SF • Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt Dislocates Finger in Game 1 Loss

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt sustained a full dislocation of his right pinky finger in Tuesday's Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. According to Charania, Vanderbilt needed stitches after the game because the bone in his dislocated finger broke the skin. He exited the game in the second quarter after slamming his finger on the backboard during a block attempt. Vanderbilt finished the night with two points and one rebound in six minutes. During the playoffs, Vanderbilt has averaged 12.0 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has seen regular rotation minutes, but his contributions have been limited to 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Jake LaRavia could see an uptick in minutes if Vanderbilt misses time, which seems likely.

5 days ago

Luka Dončić • PG • Lakers

Luka Doncic Unavailable for Start of Round 2, Considered Week-to-Week

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is considered week-to-week, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The Slovenian superstar won't be available at the start of the Lakers' second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "He's doing more and more on the court," Charania said Sunday during an appearance on Inside the NBA. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts." According to Charania, Doncic remains on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Doncic sustained the injury against the Thunder on April 2. Until Doncic returns, the Lakers' success will hinge on the play of LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

7 days ago

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Leads Lakers Past Rockets in Game 6

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James recorded 28 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in 37 minutes during Friday's Game 6 win over Houston, helping clinch the series 4-2. He bounced back from recent perimeter struggles by hitting two three-pointers and limiting mistakes after a turnover-heavy stretch earlier in the series. James remains the offensive hub heading into the second round, providing elite all-around production. Rui Hachimura has stepped up as a scorer, and Austin Reaves continues to hold a steady role, but everything still flows through James, keeping him firmly in play for DFS despite a tougher matchup ahead.

May 2

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Starting Friday Night

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will return to the starting lineup on Friday in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets. Reaves returned from injury in a bench role in Game 5, though he replaced Luke Kennard in the first unit for the second half. On Friday, Kennard will come off the bench from the start, which will severely limit his fantasy prospects. Reaves did a decent job in his comeback game, but his field-goal efficiency was poor at 25.0 percent. In 34 minutes, he notched 22 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one block.

May 1

Luke Kennard • SG • Lakers

Lakers Hope to Retain Luke Kennard in Free Agency

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard is approaching unrestricted free agency, but the team wants to negotiate a new deal with him, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. "It is increasingly anticipated leaguewide that the Lakers will want to retain the recently acquired Luke Kennard after his strong first-round series against Houston," Fischer reported on Thursday. With the Lakers' backcourt hampered by injuries, Kennard has averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the first-round series against Houston. He's a major three-point threat and could be useful to the Lakers for years to come. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to sustain his current playoff production during the 2026-27 regular season.

May 1

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Contributes 22 Points Off the Bench in Game 5 Loss

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) returned to action in a bench role on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets and tallied 22 points in a 99-93 loss. This was Reaves' first game in four weeks. While the team elected not to start him, the 27-year-old was heavily involved in the action, logging 34 minutes. Reaves was rusty and scored most of his points at the free-throw line, going 12-for-13. He had a 4-for-16 record from the field and made only two of eight attempts from downtown. Although he had trouble scoring the basketball, Reaves did a good job as a playmaker, registering six assists. Additionally, he grabbed six rebounds and blocked one shot. Given that Reaves handled his normal workload in his comeback game, it appears likely he will return to the starting lineup in Game 6 on Friday.

Apr 30

LeBron James • SF • Lakers

LeBron James Regains Scoring Touch Wednesday

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored a game-high 25 points on Wednesday night in a 99-93 Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets. The veteran superstar rebounded well from his 10-point outing in Game 4, although James missed all six attempts from three-point land. Overall, he was 9-for-20 from the field and 7-for-10 at the charity stripe. The 22-time All-Star dished out a team-high seven assists, grabbed three rebounds, and snagged a pair of steals. In 39 minutes, James posted only two turnovers -- a major improvement from the previous two games, when he had eight turnovers in each. James is experiencing some efficiency issues in his 19th postseason campaign, but he has still improved upon his regular-season averages. Across 39.0 minutes per game, James has notched 22.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Apr 30

Austin Reaves • SG • Lakers

Austin Reaves Cleared to Return Wednesday

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (oblique) has been officially cleared to return to action in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Reaves has been nursing a Grade 2 left oblique strain since April 2. He joins a Lakers lineup that remains without Luka Doncic (hamstring), so Reaves will have a large role offensively, though he might not play his usual minutes after his multi-week absence. The fantasy outlook for Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart will suffer with Reaves rejoining the lineup.

Apr 29

Luka Dončić • PG • Lakers

Luka Doncic Remains Without Timetable for Return

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) remains without a timetable for his return, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. "There's still no clarity on the timetable for him," Charania said on Wednesday during an appearance on NBA Today. "He is starting some on-court movement. He's continuing to improve on that. There's still some ways to go, though, for him to have a full ramp-up of basketball activities." Charania added that Doncic is expected to remain sidelined at the start of the second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder if the Lakers advance past Houston. Doncic has been out since April 2 due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain.

Apr 29

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