DeAndre Ayton’s injury opens the door for unsung hero Maxie Kleber

The Los Angeles Lakers were forced to turn around quickly Sunday night after the start center DeAndre Ayton is out with an injury in the first half against the Utah Jazz. But in true “next man up” fashion, the Lakers found a spark in a pair of unexpected contributors, Jackson Hayes and Maki gluewhich helped secure a tight 108-106 win and push the Lakers to 12-4 on the season.

I told him today, I was like, ‘I know you think I’m kidding you every time I talk to you,’ but he was one of the best players on the floor for us tonight. – Austin Reaves on Maxi Kleber’s contributions after Deandre Ayton’s exit pic.twitter.com/0OGlkCPkD7

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 24, 2025

With Ayton unable to return, Hayes opened the second half as the starting starter, while Kleber, usually buried deep in the rotation and barely used this season, entered the critical minutes of the fourth quarter at five. And he delivered in the biggest moment of the night.

Kleber finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block in 14 minutes. His one bucket proved huge, though: a thunderous dunk with 1:21 remaining that extended the Lakers’ lead to six, helping the team withstand a furious Utah comeback in the final minute.

“Obviously we missed him. It was a next-man-up mentality, and Maxey came in and changed the game,” guard Austin Reaves said after the game.

Reaves, who developed a playful rivalry with Kleber in practice, he laughed when asked about the backup big man’s performance, joking that he likes to “mess with him,” but was quick to stress how important his presence is.

LeBron James echoed those praises, crediting both big men for stepping up when the Lakers needed toughness and interior presence.

“Obviously, Jackson has been in a starting role for us before, so it was easy for him to step in,” James said. “But Maki gave us big minutes. He brought physicality, had a big move toward the end to get that dunk.”

Ayton’s status remains uncertain, and the Lakers could face more time without their starting center. But Sunday offered a reminder of the roster’s depth, and perhaps an early-season turning point for Kleber, whose role has been limited since joining the team.

As the Lakers prepare to host the Clippers on Tuesday, the story is now shifting from Ayton’s failure to an unlikely hero who may have earned real rotation minutes.

Sometimes all it takes is one dunk to change everything.