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Gabe Vincent Gabe Vincent (ankle) questionable Tuesday vs. Utah
Mon, Nov 17, 2025, 2:07 PM
Ryan Ward
Gabe Vincent (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Jazz.
Analysis: LeBron James isn't the only injured Laker who could be back on the court Tuesday night. Vincent is also considered questionable, but his availability is not as impactful on fantasy basketball. There's no need to roster Vincent in most leagues, especially with Luka Don?i?, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart available. |
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LeBron James Shams: LeBron (sciatica) set for Lakers practice
Sun, Nov 16, 2025, 6:05 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports LeBron James (sciatica) will practice with the Lakers on Monday.
Analysis: This jives with a previous report from ESPN's Dave McMenamin that LeBron would rejoin the Lakers at practice next week. James participated in multiple practices with the organization's G League affiliate earlier this week. Assuming he makes it through practice without issue, the Lakers' next game is against the Jazz on Tuesday. |
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Luka Doncic Don?i? explodes for 41 points in win over Bucks
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 4:40 PM
Luka Don?i? powered the Lakers to a 119-95 blowout win over with Bucks on Saturday with 41 points (9-of-19 FGs, 18-of-20 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks over 38 minutes.
Analysis: The Lakers raced out to a commanding 63-34 halftime lead thanks to a 21-point first-half eruption from Don?i?, who knocked down six of 13 shots ??" including three from beyond the arc ??" while also converting six free throws. He eclipsed the 40-point mark for the fourth time this season with three minutes remaining when he got to the line for his 20th free throw of the contest. It was an impressive all-around, stat-stuffing effort on the second night of a back-to-back following Friday's win over the Pelicans. The 26-year-old generational talent is averaging 34.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks through 10 games this season. The Lakers are hopeful LeBron James (sciatica) will be ready to make his season debut Tuesday against the Jazz back in Los Angeles when they return to action. |
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Austin Reaves Reaves scores 25 points with eight dimes in win
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 4:32 PM
Austin Reaves registered 25 points (9-of-17 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, eight assists and one steal over 36 minutes in Saturday's victory over the Bucks.
Analysis: Reaves has topped 20 points in three of four games since returning from a three-game absence earlier this month due to a groin injury. The 27-year-old guard has looked like an excellent complementary scorer and playmaking facilitator this season with LeBron James (sciatica) sidelined, averaging 28.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.4 steals through 11 games. |
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Deandre Ayton Ayton notches 20-point, 10-rebound double-double
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 4:28 PM
Deandre Ayton accounted for 20 points (9-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), 10 rebounds, two steals and one block during Saturday's win over the Bucks.
Analysis: Ayton torched the Bucks for 16 first-half points, draining seven of 10 shots from the field, while also pulling down six rebounds as the Lakers built a 31-point advantage at the half. He scored just four more points in the second half, but his early outburst was enough to help power the Lakers to their 10th win in 14 games to start the year. He's outperformed conservative expectations so far, averaging 16.2 points and 8.4 rebounds through 13 contests in his Los Angeles debut. |
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Marcus Smart Marcus Smart (illness) ruled out vs. Milwaukee
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 12:07 PM
Dave McMenamin
Marcus Smart (illness) has been ruled out against the Bucks on Saturday.
Analysis: With Smart unavailable, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht should take on extra minutes, with one of them sliding into the starting lineup. Rookie Adou Thiero could also make his NBA debut with Smart out. He won't play enough to be worth streaming, but he's worth keeping tabs on. |
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Luka Doncic Don?i?, Reaves absent from injury report
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 8:25 AM
Daniel Starkand
Luka Don?i? (leg) and Austin Reaves (groin) are not on the injury report for Saturday's game against the Bucks.
Analysis: Don?i? and Reaves played 40 and 39 minutes, respectively, in Friday's win over the Pelicans. However, despite the heavy workload and the time missed earlier this season due to lower-body injuries, neither player is on the initial injury report for Saturday night. The Lakers' upcoming schedule may be a factor, as they play only two games over the seven days following Saturday's game against the Bucks. |
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Marcus Smart Marcus Smart (illness) questionable Saturday
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 8:21 AM
Daniel Starkand
Marcus Smart (illness) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Bucks.
Analysis: Smart is dealing with a viral illness, hence his appearance on the injury report after playing 34 minutes in Friday's win over the Pelicans. While there would be more minutes available to Dalton Knecht, he's not worth the streaming risk if Smart sits. |
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Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura (calf) out Saturday vs. Milwaukee
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 8:18 AM
Daniel Starkand
Rui Hachimura (calf) is out for Saturday's game against the Bucks.
Analysis: Hachimura, who played 35 minutes in Friday's win over the Pelicans, is dealing with a sore left calf. His absence opens up a spot in the starting lineup, with Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt being potential replacements. Of the two, LaRavia offers the higher fantasy ceiling, even if he remains with the bench unit. |
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LeBron James Report: LeBron might rejoin LAL practices next wk
Sat, Nov 15, 2025, 2:26 AM
ESPN
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports that LeBron James (sciatica) may possibly resume practicing with the Lakers early next week.
Analysis: While the Lakers were on their current road trip, which ends on Saturday in Milwaukee, James practiced with the team's G League affiliate on Wednesday and Thursday. The second session included some 5-on-5 work, after which James felt no ill effects. According to McMenamin, there's a chance that LeBron rejoins the Lakers for practice on Monday, provided no issues arise over the weekend. Following Saturday, the Lakers don't play again until Tuesday against the Jazz in the first of two games on the team's Week 5 schedule (the second is at Utah on November 23). |
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Deandre Ayton Domin-Ayton shoots 10-of-11, posts 20/16 line
Fri, Nov 14, 2025, 5:59 PM
Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double on Friday with 20 points (10-of-11 FGs), 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block against the Pelicans.
Analysis: Domin-Ayton made an appearance in this game early on, which led to him recording a double-double before halftime. This was Ayton's fourth 20/10 double-double this season, but this one was far more efficient than the rest. Ayton has been inconsistent, but he has had some really good games as a Laker so far. If he continues playing this well, they'll be a difficult team to beat. |
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Austin Reaves Austin Reaves drops team-best 31 points vs. Pels
Fri, Nov 14, 2025, 5:50 PM
Dan Woike
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 31 points (9-of-16 FGs, 11-of-13 FTs), four rebounds, seven assists, one steal, one block and two three-pointers in a 118-104 win over the Pelicans on Friday.
Analysis: Reaves got off to a blazing hot start to open the year, but after missing three games with a groin injury, he cooled off. However, he got back to being a dominant offensive force in this one. Reaves shot at least 50 percent from the floor in each of his first four games and followed that up by shooting below 50 percent five straight games entering this one. Lakers coach JJ Redick said he expects Reaves to be available against the Bucks on Saturday, but considering the groin injury, it's worth checking back here for updates. |
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Luka Doncic Don?i? puts up 24/7/12/2/1 line vs. New Orleans
Fri, Nov 14, 2025, 5:43 PM
Dan Woike
Luka Don?i? posted a full line on Friday with 24 points (6-of-16 FGs, 9-of-13 FTs), seven rebounds, 12 assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers against the Pelicans.
Analysis: Don?i? was excellent early on in this game and fell one assist shy of entering halftime with a double-double. Unfortunately, he didn't add much after the break, which led to an underwhelming night to Don?i?'s lofty standards. He opened the year with three straight 40-point outings, but he hasn't been as dominant as a scorer recently. It's worth noting that he hasn't played both legs of a back-to-back this season, so check back for an update on his status ahead of Saturday's game against the Bucks, though Lakers Coach JJ Redick said he expects him to be available. |
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Austin Reaves Austin Reaves limited to 13 points vs. Thunder
Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 6:56 PM
Austin Reaves accounted for 13 points (4-of-12 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), five rebounds, three assists and one steal in Wednesday's loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: Wednesday's game may go down as Reaves' worst of the season by the time we hit April. Like Luka Don?i?, finding spaces in which to operate proved challenging, with Reaves failing to make a three-pointer for the first time this season. This was also the first time he failed to score at least 20 points; that's how well Reaves was playing before a groin injury sidelined him for three games last week. With the Lakers visiting the Pelicans on Friday, he's a safe bet to bounce back given how much New Orleans has struggled thus far. |
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Luka Doncic Luka Don?i? leads Lakers with 19 points vs. OKC
Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 6:55 PM
Luka Don?i? finished Wednesday's loss to the Thunder with 19 points (7-of-20 FGs, 4-of-7 FTs), seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one three-pointer.
Analysis: Don?i? and the Lakers ran into the team with the NBA's best defense, and the fact that Oklahoma City was playing its second game in as many nights didn't matter. Don?i? struggled to get going and did not play at all in the fourth quarter. He'll look to bounce back when the Lakers visit the struggling Pelicans on Friday in what should be a far more advantageous matchup for him. |
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LeBron James Shams: LeBron (sciatica) set for G League practice
Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 7:20 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports LeBron James will participate in his first full practice with the Lakers' G League affiliate on Wednesday.
Analysis: Yet to appear in a game with the Lakers this season, James was assigned to the franchise's G League affiliate in South Bay. LeBron, who turns 41 next month, is set for his first full practice and will even play 5-on-5, according to Charania. When he'll make his debut is still unclear, but going on what equates to a minor league rehab assignment marks a step towards James' ultimate return to the court. Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves will continue to run the show for the Lakers until LeBron is back. |
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Marcus Smart Marcus Smart records season-high seven steals
Mon, Nov 10, 2025, 3:51 PM
Marcus Smart recorded 13 points (4-of-9 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, six assists, seven steals and three three-pointers in Monday's win over the Hornets.
Analysis: While Luka Don?i?, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura handled most of the scoring on Monday, Smart was a pest defensively. The veteran guard recorded seven steals, one shy of his career-high, while also providing solid value in the assist and three-point categories. Rostered in seven percent of Yahoo! leagues, Smart is closing in on top-100 value in nine-cat formats. While LeBron James (sciatica) is making progress in his recovery, streaming Smart in deep leagues for the final three games of the Lakers' road trip wouldn't be a bad idea. |
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Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura scores 21 points vs. Charlotte
Mon, Nov 10, 2025, 3:48 PM
Rui Hachimura amassed 21 points (9-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and three three-pointers in Monday's win over the Hornets.
Analysis: After scoring a season-low eight points in Saturday's loss to the Hawks, Hachimura rebounded nicely in Charlotte. While the return of Austin Reaves from a groin injury knocked the forward down a peg in the offensive pecking order, Rui benefited from the improved spacing. The result was his third 20-point game of the season, with Hachimura shooting 75 percent from the field and 100 percent from three. Rostered in 27 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he's providing 10th-round value in nine-cat formats. |
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Austin Reaves Austin Reaves (groin) scores 24 points in return
Mon, Nov 10, 2025, 3:45 PM
Austin Reaves (groin) finished Monday's win over the Hornets with 24 points (7-of-17 FGs, 8-of-11 FTs), five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two three-pointers.
Analysis: Back in the Lakers' lineup after missing three games with a groin injury, Reaves only played 29 minutes. While he didn't have a great night from deep, making just two of his 10 three-point attempts, the overall production was fine for a player whose minutes were somewhat restricted. Reaves and the Lakers have three more games on the schedule before the end of their road trip, starting with the Thunder on Wednesday. The concern for fantasy managers is the Friday/Saturday back-to-back against the Pelicans and Bucks. |
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Luka Doncic Luka Don?i? drops game-high 38 points vs. CHA
Mon, Nov 10, 2025, 3:42 PM
Luka Don?i? tallied 38 points (14-of-28 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, seven assists, one steal and five three-pointers in Monday's win over the Hornets.
Analysis: Don?i? put on a show Monday night, dropping 38 points on excellent percentages. Even better for fantasy managers was that he kept the turnovers in check, only committing two. Monday's game was the first for the tandem of Don?i? and Austin Reaves since November 2, as the latter missed three games with a groin injury. They combined to score 62 points, providing the output that fantasy managers have come to expect with LeBron James (sciatica) out of the lineup. Don?i? and the Lakers should be challenged more on Wednesday when they visit the reigning champion Thunder. |
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