Lakers heart Jaxson Hayes prevented main damage on his proper wrist after a tough fall in Friday’s preseason finale as X-rays taken after the sport got here again detrimental and an MRI scan revealed what Hayes on Sunday referred to as “a light-weight sprain.”
The 7-footer missed the second half of Friday’s exhibition recreation with a proper wrist contusion after he caught a lob from Luka Doncic and was bumped within the air whereas jamming a two-handed dunk within the first quarter. He stayed within the recreation for the second quarter and expects to be prepared for Tuesday’s regular-season opener in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.
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“Being a dummy,” Hayes mentioned after follow Sunday of how he received damage on the play. “I should not have tried to catch myself, ought to’ve simply fallen.”
Hayes scored six factors within the preseason loss to the Sacramento Kings, all on hovering dunks. He and Doncic linked on Hayes’ first basket of the sport as they have been enjoying collectively within the preseason for the primary time.
Learn extra: Luka Doncic sharp once more, however Kings rally to beat Lakers
Doncic’s wizardry within the pick-and-roll makes him an athletic rim-running heart’s dream because the artful level guard drops passes from each possible angle. However in Doncic’s first coaching camp with the Lakers since final 12 months’s midseason commerce, gamers, together with new heart Deandre Ayton are nonetheless adjusting to Doncic’s passes.
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Whereas coach JJ Redick mentioned he was proud of the Lakers’ 28 assists to 10 turnovers within the preseason recreation in opposition to the Kings, he estimated the staff missed seven help alternatives due to misfired lobs or overly difficult passes.
“For all bigs and level guards, if you begin enjoying with a brand new large or a brand new level guard, it is a studying interval,” Hayes mentioned. “You simply learn the way they like their screens. You learn the way they such as you to roll to the ring. It is simply little issues. You study the place they wish to go you the ball. … It is simply these guys [Doncic and Ayton] are figuring one another out, identical to me and Luka did final 12 months.”
The chemistry between Hayes and Doncic has gotten so robust that Hayes is being recruited to affix the Slovenian nationwide staff and mentioned he’s engaged on getting a Slovenian passport. He and Doncic are each shoppers of agent Invoice Duffy, and Doncic and his household have been concerned within the course of for a couple of 12 months and half, Hayes mentioned.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic seems to be up the ground whereas dribbling throughout a preseason recreation in opposition to the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 14. (Kelsey Grant / Getty Photos)
Hayes watched Slovenia’s run to the quarterfinals in EuroBasket with a cautious eye realizing that becoming a member of the staff may very well be a risk for him sooner or later. FIBA permits every nationwide staff to have one naturalized participant, which the worldwide basketball governing physique defines as a participant who obtains their passport for that nation after turning 16.
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Hayes mentioned he had hopes of representing the USA, however USA Basketball doesn’t have open tryouts for senior nationwide groups.
“I needed to only play on that stage,” Hayes mentioned. “So I am going do no matter it takes to play on that stage.”
And many others.
The Lakers reduce down their roster to 14 commonplace contract gamers on Saturday, waiving RJ Davis, Augustas Marciulionis, Anton Watson and Nate Williams after coaching camp formally ended. The staff saved heart Christian Koloko and guards Chris Manon and Nick Smith Jr. on two-way contracts. … Manon was nursing an ankle damage throughout coaching camp however was a full participant in follow on Sunday. Bronny James (ankle) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee) went by a modified exercise.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.
