The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Rajon Rondo against the Orlando Magic and could also be without Anthony Davis, who is listed as questionable.
The Los Angeles Lakers were able to run their winning streak to nine games with a dominant performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While things started slow, the team picked things up in the second half and blew Cleveland out behind LeBron James.
It was a strong performance for the Lakers, who were shorthanded going into the game. While James and Avery Bradley played, both were on the injury report prior to it.
Rajon Rondo and Anthony Davis were both on the injury report as well, as questionable, but missed the game. Now, it looks like they will miss another one.
Rondo is dealing with an avulsion fracture in his right ring finger. He will not play against the Orlando Magic tonight. Davis is being listed as questionable for the game because of the gluteus maximus bruise.
Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. Orlando and Rajon Rondo is out with an avulsion fracture in his right ring finger.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 14, 2020
With Rondo already announced out, Alex Caruso will continue seeing minutes as the backup point guard to James.
While Davis says that he is progressing well, he has yet to take any contact or done any sprints.
Anthony Davis says he’s progressing well but still hasn’t taken any contact or done sprints.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 14, 2020
It’s unclear if he’ll play Wednesday vs. Orlando. He’s missed three games because of a bruised gluteus maximus.
He will test that stuff out before the game against the Magic, but it sounds like he is trending toward being sidelined again. Davis has already missed three games because of the injury and the Lakers are 3-0 in those games.
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In his absence, the Lakers have received incredible production from Kyle Kuzma and Dwight Howard. Against the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, Kuzma scored 26 and 36 points.
Howard, who has had a great turnaround this season with the Lakers, has turned the clock all the way back with Davis sidelined.
He has double-doubled in two straight games, going for 12 points and 14 rebounds against the Thunder, adding three assists and two blocks. In 25 minutes against the Cavaliers, Howard scored 21 points with 15 rebounds, including a three-pointer.
With a game against his old team in the Magic, you can bet that Howard will be motivated to produce again.
With a five-game road trip on deck beginning this weekend, it makes sense to see if Davis is ready to go working him out before the game. Getting him some minutes against the Magic to knock the rust off makes sense, but with how well the team is playing, they could opt to get him a little more rest to ensure he is 100 percent ready to go once the road trip begins.
The Lakers’ road trip begins Saturday night with a visit to the Houston Rockets before heading east for four games against Atlantic Division foes.