Lakers Announce Deandre Ayton Injury Update vs Heat

Oct 31, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Jock Landale (31) shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton sat out the second half of Friday's impressive 117-112 victory on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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After the fact, it was revealed that the big man had been dealing with back spasms, and although he was made available to return in the contest's fourth quarter, he sat out as a precaution.

Now, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Lakers have upgraded his status for Sunday's clash with the ascendant Miami Heat to probable.

The Lakers say Deandre Ayton (back spasms) is probable for Sunday’s game against Miami. pic.twitter.com/U5uebFachA

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 1, 2025

Los Angeles lucked into Ayton this summer. The 7-footer out of Arizona negotiated a contract buyout of his expiring maximum deal with the Portland Trail Blazers last summer, clearing a path for 2024 lottery pick Donovan Clingan to fully take over long-term starting center duties.

Ayton inked a one-plus-one $16.2 million contract with the Lakers after the dust had settled on his Portland buyout.

Essentially, if he outperforms his salary in 2025-26, he’ll be able to opt out of the second year of his current deal and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

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For now, the 27-year-old big man is still developing chemistry with star LA guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He’s a solid lob threat and can be a mobile big body in the post, but Ayton occasionally can get disengaged on defense if he’s not involved enough on offense.

Through parts of six games with the 4-2 Lakers, Ayton has been averaging 14.8 points on 62.7 percent field goal shooting and 45.5 percent free throw shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.8 blocks a night.

Life Without Ayton

Thanks to the vastly overrated Grizzlies frontcourt, Los Angeles was able to hold on without Ayton. Power forward Rui Hachimura and backup center Jaxson Hayes stepped up at the position in Ayton’s absence.

Los Angeles could certainly use Ayton's size and strength in the paint Sunday, against three-time All-Star Heat power forward/center Bam Adebayo and second-year center Kel'el Ware. Neither player can shot from outside, but Adebayo is fairly mobile. When motivated, Ayton should be able to keep up. But if he's truly ailing, it's an open question as to how invested he'll be.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.