Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Not listed on injury report
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Ayton (illness) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game in Utah, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Ayton did not participate in Saturday's practice due to an illness, but that won't stop him from taking the floor for Sunday's game in Utah. The big man is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game on the season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Battling through illness
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Ayton did not participate in Saturday's practice due to an illness, but he will travel with the Lakers ahead of Sunday's game against the Jazz, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Ayton can be considered questionable for Sunday's contest, and his status will become more clear when he goes through morning shootaround and pregame warmups. Ayton's absence would likely lead to Jaxson Hayes entering the Lakers' starting five, and Maxi Kleber would be in line for more minutes off the bench. Over his last eight games, Ayton has averaged 17.8 points on 75.3 percent shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 steals over 29.6 minutes per game, and he has registered a double-double in three consecutive outings.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Drops monster double-double in win
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Ayton finished Tuesday's 140-126 win over the Jazz with 20 points (10-13 FG, 0-2 FT), 14 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 30 minutes.
Ayton has now put up 20 points in three straight contests, and he benefited from the return of LeBron James (sciatica) with easy baskets. Ayton is averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks across 30.4 minutes this season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Posts another double-double
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Ayton finished Saturday's 119-95 win over the Bucks with 20 points (9-13 FG, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, one block and two steals over 28 minutes.
Ayton needed a few games to get into the flow of the Lakers' offense, but his results in recent games have been excellent. The veteran big man has been making his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball but is also putting up solid numbers on offense as a secondary weapon behind the Luka Doncic - Austin Reaves duo. Ayton has four double-doubles in seven appearances in November, averaging 17.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in that span.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Efficient double-double vs. NOP
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Ayton logged 20 points (10-11 FG), 16 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 36 minutes during Friday's 118-104 victory over New Orleans.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves led the way for the Lakers in this victory, but the impressive performance of Ayton can't be overlooked. The big man, who had a few problems adjusting to the offense at first, has been putting up good numbers of late, though this was his most efficient performance by a wide margin after missing just one of his 11 shots. This was Ayton's fifth double-double of the season, and it was the fourth time he scored at least 20 points. Since missing the Nov. 2 win over Miami, Ayton is shooting an impressive 48-for-63 from the floor in six games -- good for a 76.1 field-goal percentage.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Perfect from field in loss
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Ayton registered 11 points (5-5 FG, 1-1 FT) and five rebounds over 20 minutes during Saturday's 122-102 loss to Atlanta.
Ayton came up short of recording what would've been a third straight double-double, and this five-rebound haul was his second-worst output of the campaign. Ayton is not going to be a go-to option on offense any time soon for the Lakers, but the big man is making the most of his touches. As long as he can continue to crash the glass and remain serviceable on offense, he should have some decent upside, especially since he'll eventually play alongside LeBron James (nerve) and Luka Doncic together, a scenario that could increase his possibilities near the rim, either as a lob threat or as an outlier in attacks to the rim.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Second straight double-double
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Ayton closed Wednesday's 118-116 win over the Spurs with 22 points (9-13 FG, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two blocks and one steal across 33 minutes.
The double-double was Ayton's second straight since returning from a one-game absence due to back spasms, and his fourth of the season in eight contests. The 27-year-old center is averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 boards, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 assists to begin his first season with the Lakers, and his rebounding numbers should tick up as the campaign progresses -- Ayton has never failed to average a double-double in the NBA since being drafted first overall by the Suns in 2018.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-doubles in win
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Ayton finished with 29 points (14-19 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists across 31 minutes in Monday's 123-115 win over the Trail Blazers.
Ayton returned to action after missing Sunday's win over Miami due to back spasms and delivered an extremely efficient performance. With Luka Doncic (finger), Austin Reaves (groin) and LeBron James (sciatica) sidelined, Ayton finished as the Lakers' leading scorer, securing his second outing with at least 20 points through seven regular-season appearances. The big man also grabbed a game-high mark in rebounds en route to his third double-double of the campaign. The 27-year-old was productive on the defensive end against one of his former teams as well, chipping in a game- and season-best three blocks.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Iffy for Monday
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Ayton (back) is questionable for Monday's game against Portland, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.
After sitting out Sunday's game against the Heat in what was the first leg of a back-to-back set, Ayton's availability is still a question mark. If he's able to get the green light Monday, he's likely to see a spike in usage with Luka Doncic (rest) and Austin Reaves (groin) both sidelined.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Won't play Sunday
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Ayton (back) is out for Sunday's game against the Heat.
Ayton will not play in Sunday's contest due to back spasms that arose during Friday's bout against the Grizzlies. Jaxson Hayes figures to see an expanded role at center, while Jarred Vanderbilt could also get extra run to supplement the frontcourt.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Downgraded to questionable
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Ayton (back) is now questionable for Sunday's game against the Heat, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Ayton was originally labeled probable for Sunday's game, but he has now been downgraded to questionable as he continues to deal with tightness and spasms in his back. If he is unable to go, Jaxson Hayes figures to see an expanded role.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Probable for Sunday
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Ayton (back) is probable for Sunday's game against the Heat, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Ayton experienced back spasms during Friday's win over the Grizzlies and didn't return. According to Khobi Price of The Orange County Register, head coach JJ Redick said the big man was available to check back in but was held out as a precaution. Over six regular-season games, Ayton has averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 31.5 minutes per contest.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Records double-double in victory
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Ayton had 17 points (8-11 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists and one block in 35 minutes during Wednesday's 116-115 win over the Timberwolves.
Ayton crafted his second double-double of the season during the thrilling last-second win. The Lakers are currently riddled with injuries, and Ayton is one of the last vestiges of what was the team's projected starting lineup to begin the season. He's enjoyed a solid start to the season, averaging 16.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots over five games.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: First double-double as Laker
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Ayton ended with 22 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 FT), 15 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 36 minutes during Sunday's 127-120 victory over Sacramento.
It was Ayton's first double-double in three games, and the 22 points were also his best showing in a Lakers jersey. The 27-year-old big man saw increased usage Sunday with both Luka Doncic (finger) and LeBron James (back) sidelined, and his 17 field-goal attempts equaled his total from the first two games of the season combined. Ayton will play a key role in the Los Angeles frontcourt in 2025-26 and has averaged a double-double in every one of his seven NBA campaigns so far, but Ayton's numbers could be even better than usual in the short term until the team's biggest stars get healthy.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Struggles in team debut
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Ayton posted 10 points (5-7 FG, 0-2 FT), six rebounds and one block over 34 minutes during Tuesday's 119-109 loss to the Warriors.
Despite playing 34 minutes, Ayton failed to offer anything of note, a worrying sign given his history. While all the signs pointed to him being primed and ready to go, this performance won't do him any favors. With that said, it is just one game, so there is still ample time for him to turn things around, starting when the Lakers play the Timberwolves on Friday.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Flirts with double-double in loss
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Ayton totaled 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot across 30 minutes during Friday's 117-116 loss to the Kings.
Ayton finished off the preseason in great form. Although Jaxson Hayes is a solid frontcourt player, the Lakers were hurting under the basket after Anthony Davis' departure. The gap was evident toward the end of the season, especially on defense. Finding another option in the off-season was a no-brainer, and the team hopes that Ayton will be the long-term answer for the role. Ayton's numbers should be much better than what he compiled during his tenure in Portland.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Starting Friday
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Ayton is in the starting lineup for Friday's preseason game against the Kings, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
Ayton is back from a rest day, which will result in Jaxson Hayes returning to the second unit. Joining Ayton in the starting five for Friday's preseason finale will be Gabe Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Lined up for action vs. Kings
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Ayton (rest) will play in Friday's preseason finale against the Kings, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.
The star big man didn't play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Mavericks, but he's lined up for action Friday. It's set to be Ayton's final exhibition reps prior to Opening Night, and the Lakers will be treating it as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Resting Wednesday
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Ayton (rest) won't play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Mavericks, NBA reporter Jovan Buha reports.
Ayton will rest Thursday, joining several other Lakers regulars on the sidelines for the team's penultimate preseason game. The big man is coming off a strong showing Tuesday, when he posted 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist across 26 minutes. The Arizona product will have one final opportunity to see preseason action Friday against the Kings.
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Lakers' Deandre Ayton: Double-double in preseason loss
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Ayton supplied 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist over 26 minutes in Tuesday's 113-104 preseason loss to the Suns.
Ayton recorded his first double-double of the preseason Tuesday and made a strong defensive impact with five combined blocks and steals. The big man appears to be rounding into form ahead of the regular season after a quiet Lakers debut Oct. 3, when he managed just one point in 18 minutes.
