Lakers Get Good News Amid Latest Injury Development

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Dec 29, 2025 9:18 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their three-game losing skid on Sunday with a much-needed 125-101 blowout win over the Sacramento Kings. It was a concerted team effort by the Lakers, with LeBron James (24 points on 11-of-13 shooting) and Luka Doncic (24 points, seven assists) leading the charge.

Nick Smith Jr. was a revelation off the bench as well with 21 points and five triples. Another key contributor was Rui Hachimura (12 points, four rebounds), who was playing in his second game back after a two-game injury absence.

The bad news for L.A. is that Hachimura is now back on the shelf. The team announced on Monday night that their starting power forward will sit out on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) © David Gonzales-Imagn Images

It was a groin injury that kept Hachimura sidelined for two straight contests right before Christmas. However, it is now a calf issue that will sideline him for the Pistons game. The full details of Hachimura’s injury has not been disclosed by the Lakers, but the fact that he was ruled out 24 hours before the game could be a cause for concern.

The silver lining for L.A. is that they also received some good news amid Hachimura’s injury. This comes in the form of Jaxson Hayes returning from a two-game absence due to an ankle problem.

The Lakers did not list Hayes on the injury report for Tuesday’s game against Detroit.

Lakers’ injury report vs. Detroit:

Rui Hachimura is out and Jaxson Hayes is back: pic.twitter.com/OXOLsfFvrl
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) December 30, 2025

Hayes has been a significant part of the Lakers' second unit this season. In 25 games played, the 7-foot center has averaged 5.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.2 minutes.

As the report indicates, however, Austin Reaves is still out for the Lakers. He recently aggravated his calf injury and is expected to miss up to a month. Gabe Vincent also remains on the shelf with a back strain.

The Lakers enter Tuesday’s game with a 20-10 record. They will face the 24-8 Pistons, who currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. It will be a home game for L.A., with tip-off from Crypto.com Arena scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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