Deandre

Ayton

No Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves means that there is more room for Ayton to step up offensively, and he played well in Saturday’s series opener. The 7-footer recorded a double-double on 80 percent shooting from the field while also leading the Lakers in rebounds. When Ayton is engaged early on, he’s usually fine for the rest of the night, which was the case in Game 1. The Lakers will need more of that from him if they’re to have a chance of winning the series.

It has been an up-and-down first year with the Lakers for Ayton, but he ended the regular season on a high note. This was his first 20-point double-double in a month, and he was also able to make an impact as a shot blocker. The health of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are the two biggest questions for the Lakers right now, but Ayton will also be a big factor for them. He’ll be matched up with Alperen Sengun in the first round of the playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday.

Ayton bounced back from a lackluster three-point performance on Tuesday to reach the 20-point mark on Thursday for the first time since March 12 against the Bulls. He hardly missed shots and did the majority of his damage in the paint. The former first-overall pick didn’t contribute in many other statistical categories, but his scoring production against the Warriors was important, as the Lakers gear up for the playoffs.

The injuries suffered by Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have opened things up for the other Lakers in the rotation. That includes Hayes, who scored a season-high 23 points in 27 minutes off the bench. He outplayed starter Deandre Ayton (13 points, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot), who logged 20 minutes. Nights like Sunday have not been the norm for Hayes; if they were, he would be the starter. But he’s capable of delivering unexpected production on occasion.

Hayes had his best defensive night of the season on Friday, with the five blocks being one shy of his career-high. As a result, he played 26 minutes while starter Deandre Ayton (nine points, seven rebounds, one steal and three blocks) logged 22. Hayes remains a player who should only be in fantasy lineups on nights when Ayton is not available, but he should be applauded for his performance on Friday.

Ayton is back after sitting out Wednesday’s win over the Pacers. As a result, Jaxson Hayes will come off the bench, which limits his fantasy value.

Ayton was downgraded from questionable to out as the Lakers look to rebound from Monday’s loss, a game in which the former first-overall pick posted a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. With Ayton now sidelined, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes could see more minutes than usual.

Ayton is a late addition to the injury report due to back soreness. His most recent absence was also against the Pacers, with Jaxson Hayes filling in as the starting center, though he was unproductive. Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber should fill out the backup minutes if Hayes starts.

Ayton saw more opportunities and landed more production in Wednesday’s rematch against the Rockets than in the previous matchup. He impacted the game on offense as an efficient scorer and was also big on defense with a trio of blocked shots. The former first-overall pick isn’t be relied upon as much on the offensive end as in previous years. Yet, he seems to have adjusted to his role and is succeeding under head coach JJ Redick. This hasn’t done Ayton any favors from a fantasy basketball standpoint, however.

Ayton was one of several Lakers starters to produce big numbers against Chicago on Thursday. In the win, he finished third on the team in scoring and was one of two players to log double-digit rebounds before finishing with a second straight double-double. Ayton has had his least productive season as a pro to this point, but perhaps he is finding his way down the stretch of the season. He’ll have a chance to log a third consecutive double-double on Saturday against the Nuggets.