Lakers Injury Report: Guard Doubtful, Multiple Big Men Ruled Out For Suns Game

Los Angeles faces off against Phoenix on Friday.

Oct 17, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers could miss as many as four role players in their matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Buha reports that second-year point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino has been listed as doubtful with an illness. All three of the Lakers' two-way signings — guard Quincy Olivari, forward Armel Traoré and center Christian — will be unavailable. Olivari and Traoré will be with the Lakers' G League affiliate squad, the South Bay Lakers. Koloko, however, is still waiting for the green light from the NBA to suit up.

Power forward/center Christian Wood and combo forward Jarred Vanderbilt, both recovering from surgeries, remain out.

Missing Hood-Schifino is fairly meaningless for Los Angeles at present, should he ultimately sit out. The 6-foot-6 Indiana product, still just 21, was a total afterthought for Los Angeles last season despite being selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, ahead of eventual All-Rookie Team honorees Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat (the No. 18 pick) and Brandin Podziesmki of the Golden State Warriors (No. 19), plus promising small forward Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets (No. 20). He appeared in mop-up time for just 21 contests in 2023-24, averaging 1.6 points on .222/.1333/.600 shooting splits and 0.6 rebounds. JJ Redick did not include Hood-Schifino among the 10 Lakers who saw any run in L.A.'s 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

Being without Wood and Vanderbilt, however, is more troubling for Los Angeles.

On the plus side, their continued absence essentially dictates Redick's rotation for him.

Jaxson Hayes slotted in as All-NBA Second Team center Anthony Davis' backup against Minnesota, a position he competed against Wood to get throughout 2023-24. Hayes performed admirably, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line off the bench, while also pulling down four rebounds and blocking a shot in just 15:20. Hayes was athletic and physical in the paint and properly asserted himself, which honestly had been a rarity in years prior.

Vanderbilt being shelved necessitated Redick's decision to play his other top perimeter defender, Gabe Vincent, in crunch time against Minnesota. Vanderbilt's size makes him a useful option to guard wings and power forwards in the regular season, though his shooting issues make him a giant question mark in the playoffs.

On the Phoenix side, recently re-signed reserve small forward Josh Okogie missed the Suns' Wednesday regular season debut, a narrow 116-113 overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers, with a hamstring injury. His availability for the matchup against Los Angeles' other NBA team has yet to be confirmed.

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