The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury woes continue this season with seemingly no end in sight. They have had an incessant pattern of one or two players being unable to play for a period of time, only to see additional players go on the injured list afterward.
They have lost eight of their last 11 games, and although they have a home-heavy schedule ahead, they’re not exactly in a position of strength. Los Angeles is just 17-17 and in 10th place in the Western Conference. It is just a half game ahead of the 11th-place Golden State Warriors.
It will face the feisty Miami Heat on Wednesday. In addition to forward Rui Hachimura being out with a calf strain, guard D’Angelo Russell has been ruled out due to a tailbone contusion.
D’Angelo Russell is out tonight with a bruised tailbone, per the Lakers. It’s his second straight missed game with the injury.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 3, 2024
According to Ham, both Hachimura and Russell are day-to-day.
The Lakers will get a rotation player back on Wednesday
On a positive note, forward Cam Reddish, who missed two of the Lakers’ last three games with groin soreness, will play versus the Heat. In fact, per Ham, he will be in the starting lineup.
Reddish is available and will return to the starting lineup, Darvin Ham said during his pregame remarks. https://t.co/HYTDsrhKIY
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 4, 2024
Reddish’s ball pressure on the defensive end has helped the team, and if he starts consistently hitting 3-pointers, he can help it turn its fortunes around this month.