The Los Angeles Lakers enter the NBA playoffs this spring carrying the two most high-profile injuries in the league, with due respect to Joel Embiid of the Sixers. Both Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) are sidelined with lengthy injuries as the series against the Houston Rockets opens, placing L.A. in a precarious position and all but extinguishing hopes of a deep postseason run following their strong second-half surge in February and March.
Now the challenge is clear: stay afloat against the No. 5-seeded Rockets, a talented but underachieving squad heavily favored to dispatch the Lakers despite Los Angeles holding homecourt advantage. There remains a longshot possibility that Doncic could return sooner than expected; if the Lakers can extend the series—perhaps to a Game 6—Doncic might yet appear and help close it out.
What the Lakers cannot afford in the interim is another injury to their role players. Already shorthanded without their two leading scorers, L.A. must keep its seventh- and eighth-man rotation intact.
In that regard, Lakers coach JJ Redick delivered welcome news on the injury front Friday. Backup center Jaxson Hayes has been practicing and is set to play in Game 1 against a Rockets frontcourt anchored by young star Alperen Sengun and veteran Clint Capela—Houston’s size advantage being one of its clearest edges in the matchup.
Reporter Mike Trudell of SportsNet confirmed via Twitter/X: “Jaxson Hayes has been a full participant in Lakers practice this week, said JJ Redick, after dealing with a sore foot and missing the final four regular season games. He’ll be a key part of the rotation against Houston.”
The Rockets lead the NBA in rebounding and boast a 34.8% offensive rebounding edge—an area that helps offset their 25th-ranked three-point volume and 25th-ranked 76.3% free-throw shooting. Hayes, for his part, averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game this season and will be counted on to help blunt that interior dominance.
Another role player poised for an expanded role is Jarred Vanderbilt, whose edge and toughness will be vital against a Rockets team that has embraced the rough-and-tumble identity instilled by coach Ime Udoka. Vanderbilt averaged 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes this season and sounded battle-ready ahead of the series.
“It’s the playoffs, so, the stage is already set,” Vanderbilt said. “The intensity is already high. This is the moment we dream for, we live for as a professional basketball player. So, the intensity is never going away. Teams go on runs, they punch you in the mouth, but you’ve got to be able to respond. The intensity should always be up, especially with this group of guys that we have and our end goal, I think the level is always high for us.”
With Doncic and Reaves unavailable, the Lakers’ depth and resilience will be tested immediately. Hayes’ return provides a timely boost on the glass and in the paint, yet the margin for error remains razor-thin. In a series defined by Houston’s physicality and rebounding prowess, every available body—and every minute of toughness—will matter.