The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from a rough three-game losing streak by defeating the Sacramento Kings, 125-101, in one of their most impressive offensive games of the season. Up next, the fourth-place Lakers take on the top-seeded Eastern Conference Detroit Pistons without another key role player.
Head coach JJ Redick spoke with the media after Monday's practice and gave injury updates on Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura.
"Jaxson practiced, Rui did not," Redick said. "We're still waiting on a little more info. We don't think it's anything serious, he's just a little banged up. Gabe and AR -- AR's still out and Gabe is still out."
Hayes missed Los Angeles' last two games with an ankle injury, but is off the injury report and available against the Pistons. Hachimura is the latest addition to the injury report with right calf soreness. Vincent continues to deal with a lumbar back strain that has sidelined him for five games.
Who's stepping up?
The Lakers desperately need reinforcements to step up down two starters moving forward. With Reaves down for the better part of a month, and Vincent out as Los Angeles' backup ball handler, two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. Has been taking strides as an impactful player off the bench.
Smith, according to Redick, won Sunday's game against Sacramento, where he sunk five 3-pointers en route to a 21-point outing. Continued improvement may open the door for a larger role for Smith and a smaller one for Vincent when he is healthy.
Maxi Kleber has been sitting in Hayes' place in the rotation for the last few games and hasn't done too bad of a job. However, Hayes provides a key athletic and vertical skillset that can be unlocked alongside Luka Doncic in his minutes with the second unit.
Hachimura's absence is a peculiar one. On one end, the sharpshooting forward is a regular in some of the Lakers' worst statistical lineups through 30 games this season. On the other end, some would argue that his skillset isn't being utilized as his attempted field goals have taken a dip in the Lakers' recent stretch.
Nonetheless, someone has to step up, and the time without Hachimura gives Redick a good look at who can potentially replace Hachimura in the starting lineup.
Los Angeles hosts Detroit on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.