Ayton did not because of the same ailment that kept him from playing in the second half of Friday’s road win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Los Angeles Lakers are riding a three-game winning streak as they head to Portland for a tough rematch. But a key question hangs over the team ahead of tipoff.

Los Angeles has also ruled out LeBron James, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and Adou Thiero for Sunday’s game, though the good news for the Lakers is that Doncic and Marcus Smart are completely off the injury report. Fans can catch Sunday’s matchup between the Heat and Lakers from Los Angeles at 9:30 p.m. EST.

Lakers writer applauds Deandre Ayton for stellar play, silencing doubters in 2025-26 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Spectators flocking to the Moda Center expecting a blockbuster will be sorely disappointed. The Portland Trail Blazers are hosting a very shortstaffed Los Angeles Lakers.

When the lights went on and the marquee stars were shelved, the real story for the Los Angeles Lakers quietly wrote itself. While Austin Reaves exploded for 51 points and carried the offense, it’s DeAndre Ayton’s unassuming presence in the paint and his sudden back-spasm absence that might become the unspoken barometer of this team’s playoff viability.

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (back spasms) has been downgraded to out for Sunday night's game against the Miami Heat.

On Monday evening, the Portland Trail Blazers took care of business by beating a shorthanded Lakers team 122-108 in Los Angeles. The trio of Deni Avdija, Jrue