The Los Angeles Lakers are on fire, securing their fifth consecutive win on Friday night with a hard-fought 106-102 victory over the Clippers. LeBron James and Luka Doncic delivered standout performances, helping the Lakers continue their surge.
However, starting forward Rui Hachimura was absent from the lineup due to a knee injury sustained earlier in the week. JJ Redick reassured fans after the game that the injury is not serious, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“JJ Redick says Rui Hachimura’s injury has been diagnosed as left patellar tendinopathy,” McMenamin shared on X.
Redick also noted that Hachimura will be re-evaluated in a week, according to McMenamin.
Left patellar tendinopathy is a stress-related injury that typically heals with rest and proper treatment, so Lakers fans shouldn’t be too concerned. In Hachimura’s absence, Dorian Finney-Smith stepped into the starting role, while Trey Jemison III and Jarred Vanderbilt logged additional minutes on the wing.
Vanderbilt and Jemison contributed solid defense and rebounding, though they don’t offer the same floor-spacing ability that Hachimura brings. This makes it crucial for the Lakers to give him the necessary time to recover fully.
If Hachimura remains out for just a week as Redick indicated, he will miss upcoming home games against the Clippers, Pelicans, and Knicks before the Lakers face the Celtics on March 8.
Meanwhile, another injury concern for the Lakers is starting point guard Austin Reaves, who exited Friday’s game after just nine minutes due to calf soreness. While it doesn’t appear to be serious, the Lakers need Reaves on the floor to maintain their winning momentum.
Despite missing key players, the Lakers remain focused on their push up the standings. They are just one game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, keeping home-court advantage within reach for the first two rounds of the playoffs. With Redick and the team playing at this level, securing that spot seems like a realistic goal over the final six weeks of the season.
