LA Lakers Injury Update: $51M PF Joins Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton on 5 Player List as Concerns Mount vs Clippers (Dec. 20)

The LA Lakers have a challenging matchup ahead against the desperate LA Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Saturday. While the Lakers are 19-7, third in the West and the Clippers are 6-21, 14th, JJ Redick's team could play this game severely shorthanded.

The Lakers are already missing Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton. Rui Hachimura could be the third starter joining them. Now in the final year of his $51,000,000 contract (via Spotrac), Hachimura is listed as questionable due to right groin soreness.

Reaves is out with a left calf strain and Ayton with left elbow soreness. The Lakers have done well when playing shorthanded, but these absences impact the team's balance on both ends of the court.

If Hachimura is sidelined, the Lakers will lose two of their most reliable perimeter scorers in him and Reaves. Meanwhile, Ayton's absence impacts LA's interior defense and post scoring.

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The Lakers won't have Gabe Vincent in the lineup, either. The veteran guard is out for at least a week with a low back injury. Bronny James rounds off the injury report as the other absentee. He's assigned to the G League.

On a positive note, the LA Lakers dodged a bullet with LeBron James. The 40-year-old superstar suffered a blow to his left knee in Thursday's game at Utah, but James is not on the injury report. It could have been as bad as a meniscus tear.

Here's the Lakers' injury report summed up:

Where to watch LA Lakers vs. LA Clippers?

NBA TV will nationally televise the LA Lakers vs. LA Clippers game. Spectrum SportsNet and FanDuel Sports Network SoCal will provide local coverage. Viewers outside the US can catch live action online via NBA League Pass from 10:30 p.m. ET.

Despite the injuries, the Lakers are 3-point favorites to win with a -162 money line. The Lakers lead the season series 1-0 after winning the previous matchup 135-118 on Nov. 25.

Edited by Arhaan Raje