Key Deandre Ayton injury update for Heat clash
The Los Angeles Lakers returned home from their short two-game road trip after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies 2-0. The Lakers will play against the Miami Heat and the starting center on Sunday Deandre Ayton appeared on the team’s injury report.
Deandre Ayton was officially listed as probable on the Lakers’ injury report for their game against the Heat. Ayton had back spasms during the Lakers’ win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. He exited the game, and while he was available to return, he sat out the rest of the game as a precaution.
The Lakers entered the offseason in need of a starting-caliber center after the Minnesota Timberwolves discovered their front line. When Ayton and the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a contract buyout, the Lakers had their man.
Ayton got off to a slow start during the Lakers an opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors, but has since bounced back. During the Lakers’ first win of the season against the Wolves on October 24, Ayton outplayed Rudy Gobertholding the four-time Defensive Player of the Year to just two points and seven rebounds while posting 15 points and eight rebounds.
He followed that up with a season-high 22 points and 15 rebounds, outplaying Domantas Sabonis in a win against the Sacramento Kings. Ayton outplayed Gobert again as the Lakers beat the Wolves for the second time this season, dropping 17 points and ten rebounds while limiting Gobert to nine points and six rebounds.
Ayton has appeared in all six games for the Lakers this season, averaging just over 31 minutes per game. He averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 62.7 percent from the field.
While Jackson Hayes filled in nicely as the Lakers’ starting center after the Anthony Davis trade last year, Hayes worked best as a backup, and the team’s center rotation is much improved from last year.
2025-11-02 05:40:00
