Lakers' Rui Hachimura Shockingly Ruled Out Ahead of Pelicans Game

Los Angeles starting forward Rui Hachimura will not play against New Orleans on Friday.

Apr 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) during the second half of a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

On the heels of one of his best games of the season, albeit in a high-stakes 123-116 loss against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, Los Angeles Lakers starting small forward Rui Hachimura has surprisingly been ruled out ahead of what could have been an encore performance against a nakedly tanking New Orleans Pelicans team.

Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the 6-foot-8 pro will sit out with a left patellar tendinopathy, newly diagnosed since the Warriors defeat.

Rui Hachimura is out tonight, per the Lakers pic.twitter.com/KlR28Gjumc

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 4, 2025

21-time All-Star Lakers power forward LeBron James, meanwhile, is considered probable to play on the second night of a back-to-back, despite suiting up for 40 minutes as a 40-year-old.

Although five-time All-NBA First Team Lakers guard Luka Doncic incurred a left (non-shooting arm) elbow injury that required icing and a protective wrap postgame, he did not wind up on the club's latest injury report.

Read More: Lakers' Luka Doncic Downplays Troubling New Injury

Los Angeles will be suiting up for a banged-up New Orleans team desperate to put this season behind it. Two-time All-Star Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson, All-Defensive Teamer Herbert Jones, former one-time All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, veteran guard CJ McCollum, and wing Trey Murphy III have all been ruled out for the duration of the season.

Without Hachimura, the Lakers seem likely to slot in 3-and-D reserve swingman Dorian Finney-Smith as their starting small forward, although there's a possibility that head coach JJ Redick rides Gabe Vincent's recent hot hand, moves him into an interim starting point guard role and shifts Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic up a position.

Hachimura's two-way versatility, however, will be missed. He's evolved into an elite spot-up shooter from distance this year, and is capable of playing anywhere from the three to the five. Hachimura has essentially been Redick's preferred backup small-ball center behind starting five Jaxson Hayes in most matchups.

Through 56 healthy contests for Los Angeles this season, the 27-year-old out of Gonzaga has been averaging 13.1 points on .507/.414/.764 shooting splits, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.8 steals a night.

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