Lakers' Markieff Morris: Making first start of season
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Morris is in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Bucks, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.
Morris has barely played this season, but he'll get the nod in this matchup since the Lakers will be extremely depleted in the frontcourt. This will be the first start of the 14-year-veteran.
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Lakers' Dalton Knecht: Joining starters Thursday
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Knecht is starting Thursday's game against the Bucks, Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com reports.
Knecht will run with the first unit while the majority of the LA starters are sidelined. The Tennessee product put together a big night in his last opportunity to start Friday against the Nuggets, putting up 32 points in 37 minutes of action.
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Lakers' Gabe Vincent: Running with first unit
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Vincent is starting Thursday's game against the Bucks, Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com reports.
Vincent is starting at point guard while Luka Doncic gets the night to rest. Vincent's last start dates back to March 13, also against the Bucks, when he was held to six points, one rebound and one assist in 26 minutes.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Sitting out Thursday
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Vanderbilt (groin) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bucks, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Vanderbilt evidently picked up a groin injury during Wednesday's game against the Nuggets and will be held out of Thursday's matchup as a result. Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) has also been ruled out, so it'll be up to Cam Reddish, Trey Jemison and Alex Len to pick up the slack in the frontcourt.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Won't play Thursday
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Finney-Smith (ankle) is out for Thursday's game against the Lakers, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Finney-Smith had started in nine of the Lakers' previous 11 games, but he becomes the latest casualty in a depleted roster, as Rui Hachimura (knee), Jarred Vanderbilt (groin), LeBron James (groin), Luka Doncic (ankle) and Austin Reaves (ankle) will also be out. Players such as Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin, Gabe Vincent, Shake Milton and even Bronny James will likely see an uptick in minutes as a result of this plethora of absences. Finney-Smith's next chance to play will come against the Bulls on Saturday.
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Lakers' LeBron James: Hoping to play Saturday
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The Lakers are hopeful that James (groin) will be cleared to play Saturday against the Bulls, Mark Medina of TheSportingTribune.com reports.
James took part in a pre-game workout Thursday and must have looked sharp to warrant this comment from head coach JJ Redick. The medical staff will presumably keep a close eye on how James bounces back from Thursday's workout, but assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks, the star forward should be in a position to suit up Saturday.
Lakers' Trey Jemison: Good to go against Milwaukee
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Jemison (illness) isn't on the injury report for Thursday's game versus the Bucks, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Jemison will return to action Thursday after missing the Lakers' previous five contests due to an illness. Jemison is averaging 3.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 13.0 minutes across his previous 10 appearances.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Doubtful Thursday
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Finney-Smith (ankle) has been listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against the Bucks, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Finney-Smith has started nine of the last 11 games for the Lakers, but the team will likely be forced to others to shoulder the load in the frontcourt Thursday against Milwaukee. Rui Hachimura (knee), LeBron James (groin), Luka Doncic (ankle) and Austin Reaves (ankle) have been ruled out for this game, with Jarred Vanderbilt (groin) sporting a doubtful designation, meaning Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin, Gabe Vincent, Shake Milton and Bronny James will likely have to pick up the slack.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Unlikely to play Thursday
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Vanderbilt is listed as doubtful for Thursday's game versus the Bucks due to a right groin strain, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Vanderbilt was ejected from Monday's contest and is now expected to miss Thursday's game due to a groin injury. With Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) also doubtful, Cam Reddish could receive increased playing time in the Lakers' forward rotation.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Another absence coming
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Hachimura (knee) is out for Thursday's game versus the Bucks, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Hachimura's absence streak will extend to 12 games Thursday due to left patellar tendinopathy. While Hachimura has returned to 3-on-3 work, his next chance to suit up is Saturday's matchup with Chicago.
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Lakers' Austin Reaves: Ruled out Thursday
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Reaves (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bucks, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Reaves will miss the second game of a back-to-back for the Lakers while nursing a sprained right ankle. Los Angeles will be very shorthanded Thursday against the Bucks, with Luka Doncic (ankle) also ruled out and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) and Jarred Vanderbilt (groin) currently listed as doubtful. The team will likely lean on Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Shake Milton, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James to shoulder the load.
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Lakers' Luka Doncic: Will rest Thursday
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Doncic (ankle) will be rested Thursday against the Bucks, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports.
Thursday's game is the second leg of a back-to-back set, and Doncic is still managing his right ankle sprain. During Wednesday's 120-108 win over the Nuggets, Doncic recorded 31 points (10-21 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 7-10 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals in 32 minutes. With Doncic sidelined, guys like Jordan Goodwin, Shake Milton and Gabe Vincent could see more run with Austin Reaves soaking up some usage.
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Lakers' Jordan Goodwin: Records four steals
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Goodwin finished Wednesday's 120-108 victory over the Nuggets with eight points (2-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, three assists and four steals in 26 minutes.
Goodwin didn't have much success offensively but made up for it on the defensive end -- this was his fifth career game with at least four steals. The Lakers are shorthanded these days, and Goodwin will remain on the streaming radar for the short term. Over his last seven games, Goodwin has averaged 8.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 three-pointers.
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Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith: Posts 14 points in starting role
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Finney-Smith posted 14 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one steal over 30 minutes during Wednesday's 120-108 victory over Denver.
Finney-Smith will be a fixture with the first unit until LeBron James (groin) and Rui Hachimura (knee) return to action, and he could retain his usage when the team elects to rest their stars for the playoffs. Hachimura's return is imminent, but Finney-Smith should still be a likely starter Thursday against the Bucks.
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Lakers' Austin Reaves: Posts solid line in blowout
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Reaves provided 22 points (8-16 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, eight assists, one block and two steals across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 120-108 victory over Denver.
Reaves continued to step up in a big way amid LeBron James' (groin) absence, and he's a big reason why the team has gone 3-3 since losing the All-Star. Reaves is averaging 27.0 points, 7.7 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals over the last six games without James, and the proficient Oklahoma product shows no signs of slowing down.
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Lakers' Luka Doncic: Drops 21 points in first quarter
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Doncic supplied 31 points (10-21 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 7-10 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals in 32 minutes during Wednesday's 120-108 victory over the Nuggets.
The Lakers scored 46 points in the first quarter behind a red-hot 21-point start from Doncic, who led the team in points and rebounds. Doncic did all of his damage in three quarters, as he got some much-deserved rest in the final stanza. The All-Star missed a game last Friday but has been on a torrid run since, averaging 28.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.3 steals over the past three games.
Lakers' Trey Jemison: Downgraded to out against Denver
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Jemison has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Jemison will now miss a fifth straight game due to an illness after seemingly being cleared to play against Denver on Wednesday. The next opportunity for the young big man to return to the floor will be Thursday against the Bucks.
