Injured Lakers Starter Ruled Out for Rest of Kings Showdown

Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4), guard Austin Reaves (15) and guard Gabe Vincent (7) on the bench in the second half against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers, who entered Sunday night's ongoing road matchup against the Sacramento Kings with five players hurt, will depart the game with at least a sixth absent.

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Starting guard Gabe Vincent, who had been tabbed by head coach JJ Redick to replace 21-time All-NBA forward LeBron James at the start of the season (James remains shelved with a sciatica issue), departed the game in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle. Vincent landed awkwardly on the ankle and hopped directly to the locker room, so this news isn't exactly a surprise.

Jovan Buha of "Buha's Block" reports that the 6-foot-3 University of California at Santa Barbara product has now been ruled out for the rest of the contest, currently at the top of its fourth quarter.

Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) will not return to tonight’s game, per the Lakers.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 27, 2025

Three-time All-Defensive guard Marcus Smart departed the game at the top of the fourth frame with an apparent leg injury, as Buha notes, but is remaining on a bike in front of the tunnel to the visitors' locker room to try to stay ready. Smart had started in place of five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic.

James and Doncic are both out for at least the Lakers' next three contests after this Kings confrontatoin. Doncic could return by next weekend at the earliest, while it's looking like James may be on the shelf a bit longer.

A Litany of Lakers Absences

The Lakers also tipped off this contest without reserve centers Jaxson Hayes or Maxi Kleber, nor rookie forward Adou Thiero.

In the absence of so many players, Austin Reaves has stepped up in a major way. The 6-foot-5 Oklahoma product has tied his career-high already with 45 points. As of this writing, the Lakers lead the Kings by two possessions, 110-105, with 5:50 remaining in regulation.

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Reaves also has notched nine assists and eight rebounds, putting him tantalizingly close to a triple-double. Ayton is looking like his Phoenix Suns-era self too, in flashes, as an aggressive threat for lobs and rebounds in the paint.

With so many injuries, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is giving deeper bench pieces like forwards Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia — who finished the 2024-25 season with the Kings — more touches in his offense. The rest of the Lakers' schedule sans Doncic or James this week comprises considerably better competition, so it would be ideal for the Lakers to close this game out strong.

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