Veteran guard Gabe Vincent will miss his ninth consecutive game for the Los Angeles Lakers due to a lumbar back strain, the team announced. Vincent was initially listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans but has now been ruled out. He has not played since December 14, when the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns.
Earlier in the season, Vincent missed ten games because of an ankle injury. Despite being a key member of coach JJ Redick’s rotation as a defender and shooter, recurring injuries have limited his impact this year.
Vincent returned to practice over the weekend, and there is hope he may return during the current two-game road trip. The Lakers play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday following their game against the Pelicans, so Vincent could potentially suit up then.
The Lakers are also missing Austin Reaves (calf issue) and rookie Adou Thiero (MCL sprain), leaving their backcourt depth stretched. Marcus Smart has started in recent games, with Nick Smith Jr., a two-way player, coming off the bench. Dalton Knecht has also received more playing time in an effort to boost offensive production.
Forward Rui Hachimura will miss this road trip due to a calf injury. As a result, the team is increasingly reliant on Luka Doncic and LeBron James for scoring. Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt have contributed significantly during this period of injuries.
There is optimism that Vincent will return soon and help both offensively and defensively.
Coach JJ Redick commented on another aspect of team play: “Redick believes the team did a better job of getting [Deandre Ayton] involved offensively in their last game.”