BREAKING: Key Player Ruled Out For Magic-Lakers Game
On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Orlando Magic in California.
The Lakers are coming off a 132-127 loss in overtime against the Sacramento Kings (on the road) on Sunday night.
For Monday's game, they will be without one of their best players, as Rui Hachimura has been ruled out.
Via Underdog NBA: "Rui Hachimura (eye) ruled out Monday."
Hachimura has played in each of the team's first three games and is averaging 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 42.1% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point range.
The 25-year-old is in his first full year with the Lakers, as he was traded (via the Washington Wizards) during the middle of last season.
The Lakers have gone 1-2, and their only win was against the Phoenix Suns (100-95) last Friday night in Los Angeles.
They are coming off a season where they were the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 43-39 record but were able to reach the Conference Finals.
Following the Magic, the Lakers will play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday evening.
As for the Magic, they are off to a 2-0 start to the season and are coming off a 102-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Last season, they were the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference and missed the NBA playoffs for the third straight year.
That said, the Magic are a young team that should be able to compete for a top-ten seed this season.