Lakers Get Unexpected Injury News Ahead of Nuggets Matchup

The Lakers are currently last in the NBA for bench scoring, averaging 25.7 points per game, and are ranked 25th in defensive rating at 117.4. Given this situation, having a clean injury report presents a rare chance to stabilize player rotations and roles.

 

The upcoming road trip features both opportunities and challenges, with games against the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets providing potential for wins. However, the trip starts with tough matchups against a strong Nuggets team and an improving Los Angeles Clippers squad.

 

Additionally, games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and a struggling New York Knicks add to the uncertainty, as the margin for error decreases.

 

Lakers Managing Health Amid Ongoing Concerns

While general manager Rob Pelinka is reportedly exploring trade options ahead of the February 5 deadline, head coach JJ Redick expressed optimism following a 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors. “We’re starting to get healthy, and hopefully we get [Austin Reaves] back soon,” Redick noted, as reported by Lakers Nation.

 

Reaves, who has been out since late December due to a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain, is set to be re-evaluated at the end of January, making his return seem imminent—a potential boost for the team.

 

Despite this, there are ongoing concerns about Luka Doncic, who has acknowledged playing through ongoing groin pain in recent weeks. He missed a game against Portland and was listed as questionable before the Raptors matchup but was cleared shortly before the game began. “It’s ok, not bad,” Doncic commented after the game. “But obviously I’m gonna try to play through it.”

 

For the Lakers, having a clean bill of health is crucial not just for roster balance but also for managing player workloads. Doncic is logging the fourth-highest minutes in the NBA at 36.3 per game, while LeBron James, now 41, requires careful management of his minutes.

 

As the road trip gets underway, good health alone won’t resolve all of the Lakers’ issues, but having their core players available provides the best foundation for improving their performance.