SALT LAKE CITY — Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton left Sunday night’s 108-106 win against the Utah Jazz midway through the second quarter with a right knee contusion.
The injury occurred when Utah rookie Ace Bailey collided with Ayton’s knee in the first quarter.
“He had gotten hit on his leg in the first half and was kind of limping through it,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “And then couldn’t go in the second half.”
Ayton finished with two points on 1-for-2 shooting, two rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes.
The former No. 1 pick has been a bright spot this season, averaging 16.5 points on 69.9% shooting and 8.8 rebounds coming into Sunday.
Ayton, who signed a two-year, $16.6 million contract in the offseason after reaching a buyout agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers, has helped L.A. get off to an 12-4 start while its three stars — LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — have all missed time because of injuries.
Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Ayton’s place and seldom-used reserve Maxi Kleber also filled in at the 5 in the fourth quarter.
“I’m sure he’s just frustrated because he wasn’t able to continue,” Reaves said when asked how Ayton’s spirits were after the game. “We obviously missed him. It was next-man mentality and Maxi came in and changed the game.”
Kleber had two points, three rebounds and one blocked shot in 14 minutes, but his one bucket was a consequential one — throwing down at dunk with 1:21 remaining in the fourth to put L.A. up by six as the Lakers fended off a frantic comeback by the Jazz.
Doncic led L.A. with 33 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals, but committed six turnovers. Reaves had 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. And James, in his second game back after missing the first 14 with sciatica, had 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes.
After starting the game shooting 1-for-7, James finished 8-for-18 from the field.
“Obviously Jaxson has been in a starting role for us before, so very easy for him to step in and into that role,” James said. “But Maxi gave us big-time minutes. Brought physicality, had a big-time move towards the end to get that dunk.”
The Lakers return to L.A. to host the Clippers on Tuesday and the Dallas Mavericks on Friday in their final two games of NBA Cup group play. The Lakers are 2-0 in their NBA Cup group play games.
“I mean, everybody’s got to be ready again,” Redick said. “I don’t want to speculate on DA, but we feel confident that we have enough options.”
