The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on New Year’s Eve’s showdown at the Crypto.com Arena. The Cavaliers enter this matchup boasting the league’s best record at 28-4. Meanwhile, the Lakers are 18-13 for the season but are in red-hot form with six wins in their last eight games.

Furthermore, for the Lakers, this match will be the first after their long-awaited splash on the trade market. Acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets and sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks Brooklyn’s way. Lakers fans are buzzing with excitement with the news and have only one question in mind, will Smith and Milton feature against the Cavaliers?

Well, the answer is yes! At least, by how things stand at the moment. Neither Smith nor Milton are on Los Angeles’ injury report indicating both are fit and available for this heavyweight clash. It will be interesting to see the Brooklyn duo in action for the first time in Lakers’ colors in front of their home crowd. Although the new acquisitions are fit, the Lakers have been bitten by the injury bug with several of their key pieces being affected by injuries.

They could be missing several key players which might be a huge blow given they are facing the best team in the NBA at the moment and will need all the firepower they can gather. Let’s take a closer look at the injury report to get a better idea prior to tip-off!

Los Angeles Lakers Injury report before the Cavaliers clash

The most notable inclusion on the injury report is the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. LeBron is questionable for New Year’s Eve’s clash due to an unknown illness whereas Davis is on day-to-day after sustaining a left ankle sprain. However, the Lakers’ injury woes don’t end here! L.A. also has Jalen Hood-Schifino ruled out with a hamstring injury for the Cavaliers clash.

Furthermore, Jarred Vanderbilt is on his way to recovery and has begun non-contact work in practices. Gabe Vincent is also on day-to-day for the matchup due to an oblique injury. Lastly, Christian Wood as per head coach JJ Redick has been cleared to resume on-court workouts after sustaining a knee injury.

Dorian Finney-Smith Career Stats

Dorian Finney-Smith enters his tenth NBA season as a seasoned 31-year-old forward with a reputation for reliability and versatility. Before his move to the Lakers, Finney-Smith spent his first nine years split between just two teams: the Dallas Mavericks and the Brooklyn Nets. Over that span, he became a staple in the rotation, earning a reputation as a hardworking, defensive-minded player.

In his career so far, Finney-Smith has suited up for 548 games, posting averages of 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. This season, while still with Brooklyn, he demonstrated his consistency, starting all 20 games and averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.

Now with the Lakers, it will be exciting to see how Finney-Smith fits into their system. Known for his grit and ability to contribute on both ends of the floor, he brings a wealth of experience and a blue-collar work ethic. As for his impact in Los Angeles, only time will tell how his skills translate to his new team.