The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Mar. 25 that Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, and Adou Thiero will be out for the team’s game against the Indiana Pacers due to various injuries.
This update leaves the Lakers short-handed as they finish their six-game road trip. The absence of key rotation players could impact the team’s performance as they prepare for the postseason.
Smart, Hachimura, and Thiero were previously listed as questionable but have now been ruled out. Ayton was a late addition to the injury report after recently delivering strong performances, including a double-double in his last game. The team appears to be taking a cautious approach with his back soreness given how close it is to playoff time.
Hachimura and Smart missed the previous contest against Detroit after sustaining injuries during a game with Orlando Magic. Thiero has dealt with ongoing knee soreness since recovering from surgery earlier in the season, and team staff remain careful not to risk further setbacks.
With these absences, coach JJ Redick may rely more heavily on Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes in the starting lineup alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James. Bench options are limited but include Luke Kennard and veterans Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber; Redick could also look at Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht or Bronny James if needed.
LeBron James acknowledged that despite recent setbacks due to injuries, he has seen improved mental toughness from his teammates during their recent winning streaks.