Multiple Key Lakers Ruled Out Ahead of Damian Lillard’s Bucks Debut Vs LA

LA will have to make due against the star-powered Bucks.

Tonight, your Los Angeles Lakers square off against the Milwaukee Bucks in their fifth game of the 2023 preseason. All-Star point guard Damian Lillard will be making his Milwaukee debut in this one, but it seems that multiple members of the Lakers won’t suit up for it.

Starters LeBron James and Austin Reaves, role players Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt, and rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino will all miss tonight. LA likely wants to stagger minutes in the preseason for all of their players, and this is a good way to do just that.

Darvin Ham says LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jarred Vanderbilt are out tonight vs. Milwaukee.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 15, 2023

They also probably don’t want to match themselves up fully against the Bucks, so when they see them later in the season, Milwaukee doesn’t know what's coming fully. But all is not lost for fans who want to watch this game, LA still will play star Anthony Davis in this one. He won't play the entire game, but will at least play the first half in all likelihood.

This will be the Lakers fifth preseason game, and the second one played in Crypto.com Arena. After this, they have one more before the real games start on October 24 against the Denver Nuggets.

James will likely play in the final preseason contest against the Phoenix Suns, as he was scheduled to play in three of the six games. He has suited up for two so far, so against Phoenix would be his final chance. 

Darvin Ham on what stands out about AD and Giannis ahead of Lakers-Bucks tonight: “It’s just amazing to see what they can do. Their skill level at the size they’re at, their athleticism, their quickness, their speed.”

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 15, 2023

LA will have their hands full with the Bucks superstar duo of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, especially without James out there. But hopefully, we get to see some of the younger guys get extra minutes, and we can see how they perform against better competition.

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