Rui Hachimura has been ruled out with a calf injury for the Pistons clash

The Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column with a 125-101 win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. But as has been a recurring theme for the Lakers this season, when one player returns from injury, another looks to go out. Heading into the Lakers game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Rui Hachimura popped up on the injury report doc Jackson Hayes is cleared.

Rui Hachimura was officially off for the Lakers game against the Pistons due to a sprained right calf. He recently missed two games with a groin injury and returned to the lineup on Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets. After going scoreless on Christmas Day, Hachimura bounced back in the win against the Kings with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

After the Lakers practice on Saturday, Hachimura talked about what he should do to help the team get out of the crisis they were in.

“I think I just have to bring my energy. I’m not a very loud guy. But I don’t think in games I’ve been doing the things I should be doing,” Hachimura said. “Getting offensive rebounds, getting back on defense, things like that. Little things that will help the team. Those are the things I think I need to focus on. Bringing energy, being physical.”

This season, Hachimura has appeared in 27 games with just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged 12.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 44.5 percent from 3-point range.

In the case of Jackson Hayes, he has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. His absence from the injury report paves the way for his return to the lineup against the Pistons. Maki Kleber played backup center minutes in Hayes’ absence.

Hayes has improved noticeably from last season in the backup center role. He also did a good job as a starter when Deandre Ayton was sidelined. He appeared in 25 games, including four starts, while averaging 5.9 rebounds, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 76.6 percent from the field.

Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent remain out of the Lakers’ game against the Pistons. Reeves will be sidelined for at least a month, and Vincent doesn’t have a concrete schedule yet. Two-way contract guard Nick Smith Jr. got more chances with both guards outside.