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Lakers Injury Update: Two Starters Cleared for 76ers Game
The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, aiming to bounce back from a two-game losing streak. After a tough 1-4 stretch on their five-game road trip, the Lakers are now 4-4 on the season, looking to regain momentum after their promising 3-0 start.
Fortunately for the Lakers, they’ll have a health advantage over the 76ers, who will be without star Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey for the matchup.
Heading into the game, the Lakers had several players listed on the injury report, including Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, and Jarred Vanderbilt. Both Wood and Vanderbilt remain sidelined as they recover from separate surgeries. However, Davis and Hayes were listed as probable, while Hachimura was labeled as questionable.
Now, it's confirmed that both Davis and Hayes will suit up for the game, while Hachimura will also return to action after missing the previous game due to illness.
Davis has been managing a persistent foot issue, which caused him to miss the Lakers' last game against the Memphis Grizzlies. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania provided an update, stating that while Davis has been dealing with a heel injury since the end of last season — and even played through it during the summer Olympics — the Lakers remain optimistic he will play. Charania noted that there is no structural damage, but the injury is something Davis will need to manage based on pain tolerance, and the hope is that a couple of days of rest will help him get ready for the game.
Hachimura, who had been performing well this season before his illness, is also expected to play. The forward has averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting an impressive 57.1% from beyond the arc.
With Philadelphia's roster shorthanded, Los Angeles will look to capitalize on the opportunity and secure a much-needed win. The Lakers will play their next three games at home before hitting the road for the start of the NBA Cup tournament.