The Lakers will be without Anthony Davis in their first matchup of 2025 as the star has been downgraded to doubtful against the Blazers.
UPDATE: The Lakers have officially ruled out both Anthony Davis and Gabe Vincent for Thursday’s game.
Davis and Vincent have both been ruled out tonight, per the Lakers. https://t.co/KgXUKgYTvy
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 3, 2025
The Lakers won their last meeting with the Blazers without LeBron. This time, they’ll have to do it without their other superstar.
Original story follows.
The Lakers can’t seem to get close to being fully healthy and Thursday’s matchup against the Blazers appears to be heading toward the team playing without their best player, Anthony Davis.
AD’s status for the game has now been downgraded to doubtful due to his left ankle sprain.
Per the Lakers: Anthony Davis and Gabe Vincent have been downgraded to doubtful for tonight’s game vs. Portland.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) January 2, 2025
He first injured his ankle during the Christmas Day matchup and exited that game due to the injury. Since then, he’s been able to play through it, but perhaps the ankle needs a game-off to heal fully.
Lakers fans are well aware of how pesky ankle sprains can be. Jaxson Hayes has missed 21 games this year due to ankle sprains and has yet to return to the court.
Davis has been an ironman for this team, playing in 31 of a possible 32 games for the purple and gold. Only Dalton Knecht has played in more games.
Even with Davis potentially missing this game, Los Angeles should still take care of the 11-21 Blazers. However, with AD being the sole healthy big and the team leader in points and rebounds, winning doesn’t get easier if he’s officially ruled out.
In other bad news on the injury front, Gabe Vincent has also been downgraded to doubtful for Thursday’s game.
The Lakers guard hurt his oblique during the team’s matchup vs. the Kings on Dec. 28 and left after just seven minutes on the court. Previously, coach JJ Redick stated that Vincent did not participate in practice earlier this week, so it seems likely he’ll miss Thursday night’s action.
If the team is without these two rotation players, it makes the contest much tighter, but Redick will have to navigate the situation and find a way to win.
Perhaps we’ll see the team go small and utilize more small-ball lineups with Rui Hachimura at the five spot.
Redick has done this recently and while the results have been mixed, using it in a situation where AD is out and the opponent isn't necessarily a juggernaut makes sense.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
