| News |
|---|
|
Marcus Smart Marcus Smart (ankle) out Tuesday vs. OKC
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 1:56 PM
Justin Martinez
Marcus Smart (ankle) will miss Tuesday's game against the Thunder.
Analysis: Smart's absence on Tuesday will mark his eighth straight. With injuries to Luka Don?i?, Austin Reaves, and now Smart, the Lakers' backcourt depth is being tested. Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia could start and see extended minutes, yet again. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James (foot) questionable vs. OKC
Mon, Apr 6, 2026, 1:51 PM
NBA Injury Report
LeBron James (foot) is questionable to play against the Thunder on Tuesday.
Analysis: The Lakers are already without Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves, so playing without LeBron will severely reduce their chances of winning. If LeBron is out, Nick Smith Jr., Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt are all candidates to start in his place. |
|
Luka Doncic Shams: Luka Don?i? going to Europe for treatment
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:51 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports Luka Don?i? (hamstring) will seek specialized medical treatment in Europe.
Analysis: Don?i? is out for the season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. The 27-year-old consulted with Lakers doctors and his own medical team, according to Charania, and decided he'll seek treatment in Europe in an effort to return to playing sooner. Presumably Don?i? would be targeting a return early in the NBA Playoffs, though there's still no timeline for his return. |
|
Jaxson Hayes Jaxson Hayes contributes 23 points vs. Dallas
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:31 PM
Jaxson Hayes recorded 23 points (8-of-10 FGs, 7-of-8 FTs), four rebounds and two assists in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: The injuries suffered by Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves have opened things up for the other Lakers in the rotation. That includes Hayes, who scored a season-high 23 points in 27 minutes off the bench. He outplayed starter Deandre Ayton (13 points, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot), who logged 20 minutes. Nights like Sunday have not been the norm for Hayes; if they were, he would be the starter. But he's capable of delivering unexpected production on occasion. |
|
Luke Kennard Luke Kennard drops first career triple-double
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:30 PM
Law Murray
Luke Kennard amassed 15 points (5-of-17 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), 16 rebounds, 11 assists, one steal and one three-pointer in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: In defeat, Kennard had the most productive all-around game of his NBA career. Finishing with his first triple-double, the Lakers' guard finished Sunday's defeat with a new career-high in rebounds. This was Kennard's first game with at least 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Lastly, according to Law Murray of The Athletic, he had never recorded a 10-rebound game and a 10-assist game in the same season. Performances like Sunday's are highly unlikely to become the norm for Kennard, but injuries to Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves raised his ceiling for managers whose leagues are active in Week 24. |
|
Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura posts 21 points, seven rebounds
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:30 PM
Rui Hachimura accumulated 21 points (9-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and three three-pointers in Sunday's loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: Back in the starting lineup due to injuries to Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves, Hachimura finished Sunday's defeat with his first 20-point game since February 12. He did not offer much value beyond points, rebounds and three-pointers, but Hachimura has long been a better option for points leagues than category leagues. For those competing in leagues that will be active in Week 24, Hachimura is rostered in just 10 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He is worth adding, especially with the Lakers playing four games. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James records 30 points, 15 assists
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 4:29 PM
LeBron James finished Sunday's loss to the Mavericks with 30 points (12-of-22 FGs, 5-of-9 FTs), nine rebounds, 15 assists, one steal and one three-pointer.
Analysis: With no Luka Don?i? or Austin Reaves, the Lakers will need LeBron to do more of the heavy lifting offensively. He answered the call in Dallas, finishing one rebound shy of a triple-double. Shooting over 50 percent from the field, James finished with his first 30-point, 15-assist game of the season. The Lakers play four games in Week 24, starting with the Thunder on Tuesday. Fantasy managers rostering James in active leagues will be pleased with the schedule, but three of the four games are against teams that have qualified for the playoffs or Play-In Tournament. |
|
Luke Kennard LAL: Kennard, LaRavia, James, Hachimura, Ayton
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 1:20 PM
NBA Lineups
Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton will start Sunday's game against the Mavericks.
Analysis: Already without Marcus Smart, the Lakers will have to finish the regular season without Luka Don?i? (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) over the next 10 days. As a result, Kennard and Hachimura move into the starting lineup, and both are worth streaming due to the Lakers' lack of depth. |
|
Jarred Vanderbilt Jarred Vanderbilt (calf) upgraded to available
Sun, Apr 5, 2026, 8:17 AM
NBA Injury Report
Jarred Vanderbilt (calf) is available for Sunday's game against the Mavericks.
Analysis: Vanderbilt's sore right calf will not keep him out of Sunday's game. While he does not share a position with Luka Don?i? or Austin Reaves, their absences could create additional minutes for Vanderbilt as other players' roles shift. However, he is not worth adding in fantasy leagues. |
|
Jarred Vanderbilt Jarred Vanderbilt (calf) questionable vs. Dallas
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 6:43 PM
NBA Injury Report
Jarred Vanderbilt (calf) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Mavericks.
Analysis: Vanderbilt is dealing with some soreness in his right calf. While he has not affected fantasy basketball this season, the Lakers will need all hands on deck for the foreseeable future due to their many injuries. |
|
Marcus Smart Marcus Smart (ankle) remains out vs. Dallas
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 6:38 PM
NBA Injury Report
Marcus Smart (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Mavericks.
Analysis: Smart remains out for a seventh straight game as he continues to recover from a right ankle contusion. Jake LaRavia will get another start, and he has a higher fantasy ceiling with Luka Don?i? and Austin Reaves also out. |
|
Austin Reaves Austin Reaves (oblique) done for regular season
Sat, Apr 4, 2026, 11:26 AM
Mike Trudell
Austin Reaves (oblique) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury and will miss the rest of the regular season.
Analysis: Reaves was injured early in Thursday's loss to the Thunder. While he continued to play through the injury, the Lakers' guard appeared to be a shell of himself. With Saturday's update, the Lakers will finish the regular season without two of their best players, as Luka Don?i? (hamstring) was also injured on Thursday. Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard should take on bigger roles within the rotation, with one moving into the starting lineup. |
|
Luka Doncic Don?i? (hamstring) out for regular season
Fri, Apr 3, 2026, 12:12 PM
Mike Trudell
Luka Don?i? (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain and will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Analysis: Don?i? injured his left hamstring during Thursday's loss to the Thunder and exited the game immediately. With the Lakers' star done for the rest of the regular season, he'll fall one game shy of the 65-game minimum to be eligible for postseason awards. More importantly, Don?i? is out indefinitely, and it's unknown if he'll be healthy enough to play in the postseason. With Marcus Smart also out, Rui Hachimura is likely to move into the starting lineup. Friday's injury news also puts more playmaking responsibilities on LeBron James and Austin Reaves. |
|
LeBron James LeBron James limited to 13 points vs. Thunder
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 6:13 PM
LeBron James amassed 13 points (3-of-7 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), six rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in Thursday's loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: The Lakers' 43-point loss on Thursday was the second-worst of James' career, and the game wasn't that close. Like most of the starters on the two teams, LeBron watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench. And he may be asked to do more of the heavy lifting, as Luka Don?i? (hamstring) exited during the third quarter and Austin Reaves (back) was limited for most of his 27 minutes on the court. The Lakers end their Week 23 in Dallas on Sunday. |
|
Austin Reaves Austin Reaves (back) scores team-high 15 points
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 6:09 PM
Khobi Price
Austin Reaves (back) finished Thursday's loss to the Thunder with 15 points (5-of-9 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), four rebounds, one assist and two three-pointers.
Analysis: Reaves appeared to tweak something on the left side of his lower back early in Thursday's game. While he did play 27 minutes, the Lakers' guard appeared to be a shell of himself for most of the night. And with Luka Don?i? leaving Thursday's game with a left hamstring injury, the Lakers can't afford to lose Reaves as well. The Lakers won't play again until Sunday in Dallas, so Reaves will have a little more time to recover. |
|
Luka Doncic Luka Don?i? (hamstring) will not return vs. OKC
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 5:31 PM
Khobi Price
Luka Don?i? (hamstring) will not return to Thursday's game against the Thunder.
Analysis: Don?i? injured his left hamstring during the third quarter of Thursday's game, letting go of the basketball almost immediately afterward. While the Lakers' star guard was able to walk off the court on his own, he did not look comfortable. Don?i? still needs to play at least 20 minutes in one more game to be eligible for postseason awards. Still, the Lakers' primary concern is whether this injury will affect his availability for the postseason. He will undergo an MRI on Friday morning to determine the severity of the injury. |
|
Marcus Smart Marcus Smart (ankle) remains out vs. Oklahoma City
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 12:17 PM
NBA Injury Report
Marcus Smart (ankle) is out for Thursday's game against the Thunder.
Analysis: Thursday's game is the sixth that Smart has missed due to a right ankle contusion. Jake LaRavia will continue to start, which makes him worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues. |
|
Jake LaRavia Jake LaRavia shoots perfect 5-of-5 in win
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 7:13 PM
Jake LaRavia finished with 14 points (5-of-5 FGs), seven rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers on Tuesday against the Cavaliers.
Analysis: This was LaRavia's fifth straight game as a starter, with the most recent start before that coming before the All-Star break. He had some solid stretches earlier this year, but March was a rough month for him. This was his only double-digit scoring game of the month, and it took him not missing a shot to reach that. He has been able to contribute more defensive stats as a starter, which gives him a little upside, but he hasn't truly taken advantage of the extra minutes. |
|
Rui Hachimura Rui Hachimura scores 14 points off bench
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 7:10 PM
Rui Hachimura provided a boost off the bench with 14 points (6-of-8 FGs), one rebound, one block and two three-pointers against the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Analysis: Hachimura was pushed back to the bench for this game with Luka Don?i? back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension on Monday. Hachimura scored 14 points as a starter in that game and added 14 more in this one, though he didn't contribute much in other categories, which has been the case all season. Hachimura is a strong rotation piece for the Lakers, but he shouldn't be relied on in fantasy basketball. |
|
Luka Doncic Don?i? tallies 42 points, 12 assists in return
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 7:06 PM
Luka Don?i? led the Lakers with 42 points (13-of-26 FGs, 10-of-10 FTs), four rebounds, 12 assists, two steals and six three-pointers in a 127-113 win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Analysis: After serving a one-game suspension on Monday for being assessed a 16th technical foul, Don?i? was back in the lineup for the second leg of this back-to-back. The fresh legs allowed him to put together a third straight 40-point game while also shooting at least 50 percent from the floor in each game. He's been effective from the free throw line as well, shooting 25-of-26 during this three-game stretch. Free throw percentage is typically a weakness, but he as been red-hot recently and will look to keep that going into Thursday's game in Oklahoma City. |
Connect With Us:
