Deandre Ayton gets 100% injury clearance before returning against Mavericks

As it is The Los Angeles Lakers (13–4) are preparing for the final matchup of Western Group B in NBA Cup Friday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks (5–14), center Deandre Ayton opened up about the knee injury that briefly sidelined him and detailed the process that allowed him to return to the lineup. Aiton, originally listed as probablewas upgraded to available early Friday.

Ayton spoke to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin during Friday’s scrimmage, offering an honest story about the moment when his injury occurred.

“It was kind of scary the way he felt,” Ayton said. “It felt like my knee was broken, it was really like a bone-to-bone contusion where he just hit my kneecap with my patella and it was like a bruise, stuff that I could play. It’s not something that actually stops me from playing, it hurts, but it’s something that I can play through.”

The 27-year-old missed Tuesday’s 135–118 NBA title win over the Los Angeles Clippersand he admitted that the swelling made it impossible for him to get dressed.

“Oh no, I couldn’t move that thing,” Ayton said when asked how close he was to playing Tuesday. “It was too swollen – I really had fluid in it, so I couldn’t move the way I wanted to move until the next day after I got all the meds. I just let some of that stuff rest and I woke up with a new knee – the swelling went down, I just went straight to therapy and exercise.”

“It was terrible how I felt. I felt like my knee was broken.” – Deandre Ayton on the knee contusion he suffered two games ago and how he now feels ready to return to the lineup. The Lakers upgraded him to available against DAL. pic.twitter.com/29MUJvvuke

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 28, 2025

McMenamin followed up by asking if the knee needed a drainage procedure.

“No, it’s not dried out,” Ayton said. “It was more like natural after the meds and all those inflammation pills I’ve been taking and just trying to rest. I feel like these two days we just came and got what you need – stayed in treatment. Yesterday, obviously, was Thanksgiving, but having my guys come in and check on me was a big plus.”

The return of Deandre Ayton boosts the Lakers as they lead Western Group B ahead of their NBA Cup matchup against the Mavericks

When asked by another reporter if he felt he rushed his return, Ayton answered bluntly.

“I don’t really have that many games,” he said. “Everybody says my life is on the line so they just keep that story.”

Ayton has been one of the Lakers’ most effective contributors this season. Through 15 games, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting a career-best 69.6% from the field, giving Los Angeles a much-needed interior presence alongside stars Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James.

Ayton also praised the team’s recent momentum after clinching a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals with a win on Tuesday.

“It was nice to see, especially seeing Bronn and Luke and AR coming back,” Ayton said. “I was just looking on the sidelines where I can help them, where they need me as a big, especially defensively, especially when we’re playing big teams like tonight. Just to be that anchor, the defense and just set the tone early.”

Friday’s match at Cripto.com Arena also marks The long-awaited return of Anthony Davisas he will play his first game in Los Angeles since being traded to the Mavericks last February. Davis missed nearly a month with a calf strain suffered on Oct. 29.

The Lakers enter the night atop Western Group B at 3-0 with a +36 point differential, as Dallas looks to salvage its NBA Cup hopes and stop a frustrating slump.