The Lakers’ engine has just run out of steam it seems. They were on a flyer with 8 wins on the trot, slowly creeping up to 2nd in the West. But when you come up against the current ring holders, there’s only one outcome. They did put in a shift in the game, but fell short by 10 points to the Celtics, losing 111-101. But times ahead are tough, as center Jaxson Hayes is the newest name on a long injury list.

He missed out on the loss to the Greens due to a right knee contusion. The absence was felt at the TD Garden after their winning streak came to an end. Coach JJ Redick said before the game that he doesn’t think it’s anything serious, but serious enough to require a spell on the sidelines. He’s confirmed to be out for the Nets clash as well.

Other than the ankle sprain that caused him to miss games in November and December, he’s been instrumental for the team. It says a lot when you have Luka Doncic and LeBron James in your team, yet your name is alongside them worthwhile. He’s taken center stage for the Showtime, becoming their main 5. His playstyle is like a combination of Bron’s high energy and Steph’s accurate shooting as he’s been shooting 70+ in terms of field-goal percentage since moving to Cali back in 2023.

As I said, Hayes’ name is the newest in a Lakers injury list as long as the Nile. Just ahead of the game at the Barclays Center, they’ve confirmed Dorian-Finney Smith (ankle), LBJ (groin), and Rui Hachimura (knee) to miss the game as well. The biggest surprise on the list is probably that of the King, who is still in the top 10 best-performing players at the ripe age of 40. He’s set to miss out the next 1-2 weeks due to a groin strain. But what about their newest star Luka Doncic?

Back problems leaves Luka Doncic uncertain vs Nets

We all knew the magic Luka brought to the table, but no one saw him fitting so seamlessly in LA this early. He’s just played 11 games and has already managed 28.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 7.8 APG. Partnering with the King seemed like a distant dream for him at the start of the season- and he’s taken the opportunity in full stride. Setting new records like it’s no one else’s business. But a back soreness leaves him questionable for the game against the Nets.

One could argue that it could be due to carrying the Lakers to an 8/2 record in the last 10. He just became the third-ever player to manage a triple-double against all the current teams in the league. And who did he accomplish this against? His former team Mavs. The 19-point, 15-rebound, and 12-assist masterclass against Dallas was like a dagger to the hearts of all the Dallas residents. But the potential absence tonight seems more of a much-needed rest rather than a well-deserved one.

I don’t think Redick ever envisioned being in the situation he’s in right now. He’s missing 3 of his starting 5 during a very important run of games for the Lakers. While El Matador and Jaxson Hayes don’t seem to be out for too long, the injury to James will hurt JJ more than it hurts Bron.