The Los Angeles Lakers absorbed more bad news following a crushing one-point loss as they try to steady themselves in a tightening Western Conference race.

Lakers Lose Rui Hachimura as Rotation Thins in Phoenix

Japanese forward Rui Hachimura has been downgraded to out with an illness on the NBA’s official injury report, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers shorthanded ahead of a pivotal road matchup against the Phoenix Suns.

The absence comes on the heels of a heartbreaking 110–109 loss to the Orlando Magic, a game that further exposed the Lakers’ thin margin for error as they jockey for playoff positioning.

At 34–23, Los Angeles sits sixth in the Western Conference, with Phoenix trailing by just two games in the tightly packed play-in picture. With fewer than 25 games remaining, every result carries postseason weight — particularly for a team still searching for lineup consistency under JJ Redick, now in his second season on the bench.

Bench Players Get Another Opportunity

With Hachimura sidelined, the door opens for Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Smart to seize larger roles Thursday night.

Redick has leaned heavily into flexibility this season, prioritizing spacing, ball movement, and defensive versatility as injuries and availability issues have prevented the Lakers from settling into a consistent rotation. The Suns’ matchup offers another audition for the supporting cast as Los Angeles looks to stabilize amid constant shuffling.

Suns Struggling and Shorthanded

Phoenix enters the game in similarly uneven form, having lost seven of its last 10 games. The Suns will also be without multiple contributors, including Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith, and Cole Anthony.

Despite the long injury lists on both sides, the stakes remain unmistakable. With playoff seeding tightening nightly, Thursday’s game represents a chance for the Lakers to regain momentum — or risk slipping deeper into the Western logjam.

What the Lakers Miss Without Hachimura

GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers is out with an illness.

Before being ruled out, Hachimura scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, knocking down two three-pointers in the loss to Orlando. He added two steals and a block in 26 minutes off the bench.

For the season, the 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 44% from three-point range, marking his third consecutive season above 40% from deep. Even after losing his starting spot to Smart, Hachimura’s floor spacing remains a vital element of Redick’s offensive framework.

Hachimura is also approaching a contract crossroads. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent once his three-year, $51 million deal — which pays him $18.2 million through the 2025-26 season — expires, placing added context on his role within the Lakers’ long-term plans.

Jaxson Hayes Returns as Ayton Frustration Surfaces

GettyDeandre Ayton has qualms about his role with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers will get a boost with the return of Jaxson Hayes, who missed the Orlando game with a sprained ankle suffered against the Boston Celtics. His availability restores depth in the frontcourt and provides insurance behind Deandre Ayton.

Ayton delivered an efficient performance against Orlando — 21 points and 13 rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting — but his night was overshadowed by visible frustration afterward.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Ayton vented loudly in the locker room once media availability concluded.

“When he was finished speaking to the group, Ayton made his way back toward the showers and said what he really felt — loud enough for anyone still in the locker room to hear,” McMenamin reported.

“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”

Capela, now a backup center in Houston, built his career as a rim-running lob threat — a role Ayton clearly does not believe reflects his offensive skill set.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo