Lakers Rule Out Deandre Ayton from Second Half of Jazz Game with New Injury

Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton has been ruled out for the rest of the club's ongoing road matchup with the Utah Jazz, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Ayton suffered a right knee contusion during the opening half. Jaxson Hayes replaced him in JJ Redick's starting lineup to kick off the third quarter.

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Los Angeles currently leads Utah, 84-81, heading into the fourth frame. Five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic paces all Lakers with 25 points on 8-of-20 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 shooting from the foul line.

Guard Austin Reaves is on the cusp of a double-double, with 17 points (on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor) and nine rebounds. 21-time All-NBA power forward LeBron James has a 13-point, seven-assist, five-rebound night so far.

Ayton, meanwhile, finishes with two points on 1-of-2 shooting from the floor, three rebounds, and a steal.

Selected with the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, ahead of future All-Stars Doncic (the No. 3 pick), Jaren Jackson Jr. (No. 4), Trae Young (No. 5), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11) and Jalen Brunson (No. 33), Ayton has developed into a respectable starting center.

He was a key cog for the Phoenix Suns' run to the 2021 NBA Finals, but has been plagued by rumors of chemistry issues both there and later with the Portland Trail Blazers.

A Big Break for LA

Ayton agreed to a contract buyout this past summer, and later inked a two-year, $16.2 million deal (with a player option for 2026-27) with LA.

His presence has been a godsend for the Lakers so far, who have badly needed a starting-caliber center after trading away 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in its blockbuster Luka Doncic trade last February.

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Through 14 healthy games for the 11-4 Lakers heading into their second Jazz encounter of the week (Los Angeles won the first, 140-126), the 7-footer out of Arizona has been averaging 16.5 points on 69.9 percent field goal shooting and 56.5 percent free throw shooting, 8.8 boards, 0.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 assists a night.

He's already developed solid chemistry as a lob partner for Doncic and Reaves. His relationship with James on the court continues to develop, as James missed LA's first 14 contests to start the season with a sciatica injury.

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