The Los Angeles Lakers return to the court against the Utah Jazz tonight, after last playing the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. However, the Lakers will be without their starting big against the Utah Jazz tonight. Deandre Ayton is ruled out with an elbow injury for tonight's 9 PM ET tip-off in Utah, according to the Lakers' latest injury report.
What will the Lakers miss with Ayton out?
Ayton has only missed two games this year. Heading into tonight, the Lakers sit in a tie for the third seed in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 27-year-old is also in the middle of his most efficient season to date. Ayton is shooting over 70% from the field for the first time in his career. He also set a franchise-record for games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 90% from the field.
Since joining the Lakers, Ayton has been making positive headlines. The league announced Ayton won the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for November. Ayton's mom also had her viral moment by providing a Jamaican cuisine for the team. The team was seen enjoying good eats and laughs in a team meal. Ayton has been a positive influence on the Lakers' culture since joining the team this year.
The 2018 first overall pick is averaging 29.4 minutes per game with the Lakers, which is less playing minutes than any other stop in his career. Ayton is averaging 15.3 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block over 23 games. The Lakers will miss his size and length on defense too.
Lakers latest injury report versus the Jazz
Utah features one of the better big men rotations in the league, but they could also be down a key starter. Seven-foot forward Lauri Markkanen is also listed as questionable against the Lakers. He has scored 26 or more points in four of his last five games.
The Lakers will probably see more of forward Taylor Hendricks if Markkanen sits. Hendricks was a top-10 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds this season.
Utah's lineup also features size to give the Lakers problem. Veteran Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 9.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in 23 games this year. Second-year big Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10 points and 6.4 rebounds. The Jazz also have veterans Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson off the bench.
Otherwise, Lakers big Maxi Kleber was listed as probable in latest injury report. Kleber last played Dec. 5 against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers could leverage the big man to help fill fill the offensive void left by Ayton. He is a 35% three-point shooter for his career.
Kleber is nowhere near the rebounding or defensive presence that Ayton is, but he gives the Lakers some spacing. Kleber has only played in 10 games this season.
Lakers Center Jaxson Hayes could also see a bump in minutes with Ayton out. Hayes is averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 22 games this season.
Otherwise, the Purple and Gold will also be without guard Austin Reaves. He is out with a left calf strain. He last played against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 10. Reaves is due for re-evaluation soon, according to reports.
Guard Gabe Vincent was listed as questionable with lower back soreness against the Jazz too. He has since been ruled out, according to the Athletic's Dan Woike.