Maxi Kleber (lumbar muscle strain) has been upgraded to available for tonight at Utah, per the Lakers.

Lakers say Gabe Vincent will be re-evaluated in approximately one week after being diagnosed with lower back tightness.

Luka Doncic on the recent meeting JJ Redick had with him, and LeBron James, about needing more from them defensively: "It was good. We talked about a lot, not just that, but he was right. You got to get a little bit more, especially from the star players. So that's on us. That's on me."

Lakers' injury report for tomorrow at Phoenix:

Marcus Smart on the Lakers' meeting yesterday: "It exposed us a lot, which we already knew....The scouting report against us is we're not guarding people. And if we want to be great in this league and do what we're trying to do, you have to be able to guard."

Lakers say Austin Reaves will be reevaluated in approximately one week after been diagnosed with a mild left calf strain.

LeBron James mentioned "five guys being on a string" when asked how the Lakers' perimeter on-ball defense can improve: "It has to be five guys on a string. Communication, always at an all-time high, letting you know what's going on behind you and things of that nature."

Rui Hachimura thinks he bought a car with the $500K Lakers players received after winning the inaugural NBA Cup two years ago. Said he was originally going to bet all of the prize pool money on black on roulette, but had second thoughts. "I got scared. I’m not going to lie.”

The Spurs will be without Victor Wembanyama for tonight's NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup against the Lakers, but will have De'Aaron Fox, who was sidelined in LAL's Nov. 5 win over San Antonio. Austin Reaves said that De'Aaron (24.3p/6.5a) is playing at a "high level":

Lakers' injury report for tomorrow vs. Spurs:

LeBron James: "It felt good tonight to kind of feel like myself a little bit...catch my second win a lot faster tonight. Hopefully that stays."

Luka Doncic on LeBron James' performance in the Lakers' win over the 76ers: "That was amazing. That was vintage Bron. We're happy he was there to save us. He had an amazing game, obviously amazing fourth quarter. He just decided the game.”

LeBron James is questionable for tomorrow at Philadelphia, while Marcus Smart remains sidelined with his listed injury being changed to left lumbar muscle strain. Luka Doncic is expected to be available.

JJ Redick said Adou Thiero's minutes were "good" last night in Toronto and that he'll be the first sub tonight in Boston.

“Just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play. That’s just been my M.O." The @ocregister.bsky.social story from Toronto on LeBron James’ double-digit scoring streak ending in the Lakers' win over the Raptors: www.ocregister.com/2025/12/04/l...

LeBron James on the game-winning assist to Rui Hachimura: "Just playing the game the right way. You always make the right play. That's just been my M.O. That's how I was taught the game. I've done that my whole career."

JJ Redick: "The basketball gods, if you do it the right way, they tend to reward you.”

Final: Lakers 123, Raptors 120. Rui Hachimura with the game-winning corner 3. LeBron James' streak of double-digit scoring games comes to an end at 1,297 games...but he records the game-winning assist as the Lakers kick off the road trip with a big win without Luka Doncic.

Ahead of tonight's matchup against the Raptors, JJ Redick mentioned the Lakers are 15-0 when they commit 19 or fewer turnovers and 0-5 when they commit 20 or more.

Gabe Vincent on what the Lakers will need to focus on tonight against the Raptors, who rank No. 5 in defensive TOV%: "A little bit of offensive physicality and just try to get shots on goal. Sometimes we try to make a home run pass, and we have a simple one or we have a shot."

Latest for @ocregister.bsky.social on the Lakers’ physicality coming into focus ahead of their East Coast trip. LAL has three games in four nights beginning tomorrow in Toronto without Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart: www.ocregister.com/2025/12/03/l...

The Lakers' physicality – or lack of it – has been a common talking point after each of their five losses. JJ Redick: "They know what we mean by physicality. They've done it. We've shown it. It's part of the habit thing that we have to build for us to be a great team eventually."

Jaxson Hayes with an admirable impersonation of a media member as Austin Reaves touches on the points of emphasis entering the Lakers' East Coast trip:

Luka Doncic (personal) and Marcus Smart (lower back injury management) won't be available for tomorrow at Toronto:

Jake LaRavia on tomorrow's matchup against the Raptors: "It's going to be the same track-race type game where we have to be the more physical team. Like you said, it's kind of a trend in our losses: when we're not the more physical team, we struggle a little bit more to be able to win the game."

JJ Redick said Marcus Smart went through an individual workout today and wasn't a participant in the Lakers' practice in Toronto. TBD on Marcus' status for tomorrow, but he continues to be "day-to-day", per Redick.

Luka Doncic: "That was my fault...there's no way I should have nine turnovers."

JJ Redick said Marcus Smart, who's sidelined for the 3rd consecutive game tonight vs. Phoenix, is "day-to-day" with lower back injury management. JJ: "Imaging was unremarkable; looks like a normal 11-year NBA veteran...we expect him to be back soon. It's not a long-term thing."

Marcus Smart will be sidelined for the 3rd consecutive game tonight vs. Phoenix, with his injury being changed from back spasms to lower back injury management.

After having 6 of their 7 games during the win streak come against teams with losing records, tomorrow vs. the Suns will kick off a stretch of 5 straight games against teams with winning records entering the week. Deandre Ayton: "Those games...will really test our stamina."

JJ Redick after the Lakers' win over the Pelicans, which improved LAL's record to 15-4 but came after New Orleans won the final three quarters 94-87: "There's a lot of slices of pizza left in the box that we can still get after."

With LeBron James out, Gabe Vincent will be in the Lakers' starting lineup:

JJ Redick said the Lakers are being "cautious" with LeBron James, who's sitting out of the first night of LAL's back-to-back tonight because of left foot injury management. JJ added that the hope is for LeBron to play in both games of back-to-backs at some point this season.

Marcus Smart (back spasms) has also been downgraded to out for tonight vs. New Orleans.

LeBron James (left foot injury management) has been downgraded to out for tonight vs. New Orleans, per the Lakers. First night of a back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the Suns tomorrow.

Luka Doncic on how it felt to play the Mavericks tonight compared to last season: "I would say it's a little bit easier now. But like I said, games against Dallas [will] always have some special meaning to me. I still have a lot of friends there. It'll always be special for me."

Deandre Ayton on Austin Reaves: “The fire tends to go from orange to blue. I can see the red fire. The red fire means I’m going to play normal. And then the blue fire – blue hotter than the red fire. You see the blue fire, don’t go near him. Let him do his thing."

Tonight was Austin Reaves' 5th game of the season with at least 30 points. 14 of his 18 games with at least 30 points have been in 2025. What are the things that Austin does that impress LeBron James? LeBron: "Nothing. How long ago did I tell you all, AR can f---ing play ball?"

Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell going through their pregame warmups ahead of Lakers-Mavericks:

Rui Hachimura on Mavericks star Anthony Davis, who'll make his return to the floor and play his first game against the Lakers in L.A. since the February trade tonight: "It’s still weird sometimes when I see him on the TV or like, when I play against him. It feels weird."

"This question for me, Deandre Ayton, evaluating his defense, is quite crazy. I thought I had no defense." Deandre Ayton's mentioned being a defensive anchor as an important part of his role for the Lakers. His response when asked how he'd evaluate how he's done in that area:

Lakers have downgraded Marcus Smart (back spasms) to doubtful for tonight vs. Dallas.

Deandre Ayton will be available tonight vs. Dallas after missing the last 1 ½ games because of a right knee contusion he suffered last Sunday in Utah: "It was scary, the way it felt. It felt like my knee broke."

NBA Cup enthusiasts: Here's all you need to know about tonight's potential outcomes www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

Rui Hachimura on the Lakers' NBA Cup court: "Oh yeah. That was bad. I felt it right away when I was warming up. It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery. Everybody was on the floor, literally. Every second. We’re going [back to] the normal court, so it will be fine."

The Lakers will play on their traditional court for tonight's NBA Cup matchup against the Mavericks after technicians from the league’s court vendor determined the LAL's Cup court was unplayable for tonight. The court is expected to undergo repairs and be available in two weeks, if needed.

Deandre Ayton has been upgraded to probable for tomorrow vs. Dallas. Marcus Smart is questionable because of back spasms.

🔒 NBA Cup Quarterfinals ✅ West Group B 🔜 Primetime matchup against the Mavericks Latest for @bleachereport.bsky.social: br.app.link/wCRgmVagCYb

The @ocregister.bsky.social story on the Lakers' Big 3 leading LAL past the Clippers to clinch their NBA Cup group and secure a spot in the knockout rounds: www.ocregister.com/2025/11/25/b...

The @ocregister.bsky.social story on the Lakers hoping Deandre Ayton will rejoin the lineup by the end of the week: ocregister.com/2025/11/25/l...