After coming off an impressive 25-point, 13-rebound performance against the Toronto Raptors, the expectation for DeAndre Ayton was heightened. But against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers center could manage only four points and eight boards in 15 minutes. He didn’t even start in the second half, making fans wonder what transpired on the court.

With a minute left in the second quarter, Ayton got his eye poked and has been out since. He went to the locker room but did not return in the third quarter. Jaxson Hayes started for the Lakers after halftime and played 15 minutes, while Drew Timme also got 3 minutes each in the third and fourth quarters, after not playing in the first.

Further details regarding the injury are not out yet. But the Lakers announced Ayton’s status in the fourth quarter. After initially being tagged as questionable to return, the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game due to the left eye injury. In Ayton’s absence, the Lakers outscored Denver 29-17 and 29-19, on the back of Luka Doncic’s triple-double.

Doncic scored 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists to rally past the short-handed Nuggets, 115-107. Meanwhile, LeBron James had another solid outing with a near triple-double of his own with 19 points, 8 assists, and 9 rebounds. Up next, they will be on the road against their cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. For now, Ayton’s status for that matchup can be considered uncertain.

The Lakers have not provided the full details of Ayton’s injury. He will likely undergo tests after the game, which should determine the extent of the issue. Deandre Ayton has been relatively healthy this year. He has played in 37 of the 42 games. Before his perfect shooting night of 10-for-10 from the field against the Raptors, the 27-year-old missed a game against the Blazers due to left knee soreness.

Coach JJ Redick has plans to improve Deandre Ayton’s Lakers tenure

He became only the fourth player in Lakers history to have 20 points and 10 rebounds while making every single one of his shot attempts in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, and Mitch Kupchak. The improved offensive performance has not gone unnoticed. Redick made it clear that Ayton’s involvement must remain a priority moving forward.

“Yeah, he was phenomenal,” Redick said postgame. “He’s had a number of these games where he scores efficiently, but really just from a production standpoint to get 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds that he’s had games like this. It’s just a huge thing for our team, particularly against teams that red. And that’s where I thought he made a huge difference today.

In fact, Deandre Ayton was also the only Lakers player since the 1977-78 season to ever turn in 25 points on perfect shooting while also not recording a single turnover in a game. The Lakers will be hoping to avoid any further injuries to their roster, as Austin Reaves could finally join the roster soon.

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