Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes Out After Facial Contusion Injury

LOS ANGELES, California — Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz due to a facial contusion. Hayes sustained the injury after taking a hard shot to the face from Jazz forward John Collins in the first quarter.

Hayes left the game with four points and two rebounds in just seven minutes of play. ESPN correspondent Dave McMenamin reported the news via social media platform X. The team announced that newly signed free agent center Alex Len would take over as the starter for the remaining minutes of the game.

The Lakers are already facing challenges with depth in their center position, and should Hayes miss an extended period of time, it could significantly impact their playoff potential. Luckily for Hayes and the team, with the upcoming All-Star break following this game, there may be enough time for him to recover.

This season, Hayes has averaged 5.9 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks, while shooting 69.6 percent from the field. His recent performance had shown noticeable improvement, particularly highlighted by his last outing where he scored 12 points and contributed two assists in 23 minutes.

The Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick expressed concern about the fallout from Hayes’ injury, stating, “We hope it’s nothing serious. He’s been a key piece for us, especially with the recent changes in our lineup following Anthony Davis‘s departure.”

Hayes’ absence was felt on both ends of the court, as he provides significant defensive support and offensive versatility as a rim runner. Redick turned to Christian Koloko and Len to fill the gap; however, neither player matched Hayes’ effectiveness. Redick mentioned these adjustments, saying: “We need to adapt and keep our pace, even when we lose a player like Jaxson.”

Fans of the Lakers are optimistic about Hayes’ potential return, and if the contusion is not serious, he will have time to heal during the All-Star break. Hayes gained positive attention for his impactful play and growing chemistry with new superstar teammate Luka Doncic, emphasizing his importance to the team going forward.

Reflecting on his previous performances, Hayes noted, “It’s been fun playing with Bron and Luka. We’ve been connecting really well on the court, and I hope to get back out there soon.”