Lakers injury update: Will Anthony Davis, Gabe Vincent play vs. Trail Blazers?

Concerning news coming out of Los Angeles.

Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick with guard Gabe Vincent (7) and forward Anthony Davis (3) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick with guard Gabe Vincent (7) and forward Anthony Davis (3) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have been in excellent form as of late. They've gone 6-3 over the past nine games, thus righting the ship after a recent three-game losing streak and improving their overall record to 18-14 on the season.

Unfortunately, coming off of a disappointing 122-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers are in need of a win to prevent yet another losing streak from taking shape.

Los Angeles will have a favorable matchup on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host the 11-21 Portland Trail Blazers. Portland has looked solid in recent games, however, going 3-3 over its past six outings and securing wins over the likes of the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, the injury report has revealed that both Davis and Vincent have been ruled out for the clash with Portland.

The task of avoiding a two-game slide will be significantly more difficult to manage without Davis, but that may be the reality facing the Lakers.

Anthony Davis, Gabe Vincent out for Lakers vs. Trail Blazers

Davis has been playing at an All-NBA level in 2024-25. He appeared in 31 of the Lakers' first 32 games, averaging 26.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.5 offensive boards, 3.5 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 steals, and a respectable 0.7 three-point field goals made per game.

Shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 77.7 percent at the free throw line, Davis is turning in yet another memorable campaign in Los Angeles.

Matched up against the Trail Blazers, it stands to reason that Davis would've been as important as ever. Portland is elite on the offensive glass, ranking No. 4 in second-chance points per game. It also places in the top half of the NBA in points in the paint.

Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan are all averaging at least 2.0 offensive rebounds per game, and all three are expected to be available against the Lakers.

Without Davis, the shorthanded Lakers will need to play bigger than they are along the interior. It'll be a tall task for a team that, beyond Davis, typically enlists the services of players who are 6'9" or shorter in the starting lineup.

The task of matching up with the Trail Blazers' bigs will thus fall to returning backup center Jaxson Hayes, who hasn't played since Nov. 26 due to an ankle injury, and Christian Koloko.

As for Vincent, his presence on the defensive end of the floor will be missed. Portland has a slew of productive guards, including the dynamic backcourt duo of Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons, against whom Vincent would typically match up.

Without Davis and Vincent, the Lakers will effectively be left searching for answers to the Trail Blazers' greatest strengths on the offensive end of the floor.

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