Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was limited to just 13 minutes of action on Sunday against the Utah Jazz. During the middle of the game, Ayton headed back to the locker room due to a knee contusion. DA finished with two points and three rebounds on 50% shooting. Head coach JJ Redick opted to play Maxi Kleber once the Bahamian center exited.
Before the contest, the Lakers submitted a clean injury report. The only players who didn’t play for the team were Bronny James and Adou Thiero. Both youngsters were assigned to the South Bay Lakers. Ayton was sick on Saturday, so he didn’t practice with LA. However, he wasn’t part of the injury report.
Kleber earned 13 minutes for the Lakers and had two points and three rebounds.
After the news about Deandre Ayton’s injury was posted, fans had various reactions to it. Most of them were concerned for the Lakers and the big man’s situation. Here are some of what the fans said.
“D**n I hope its nothing serious,” a fan said.
“So that’s why he wasn’t playing good,” another fan commented.
“We need him next game,” one fan said.
“Hope he bounces back soon,” one fan commented.
Hope he bounces back soon
— BLOCKXS.COM (@blockxs) November 24, 2025
“He was sick anyway he had no business playing tonight,” someone commented.
“Prayers man we need him back asap,” a comment read.
“I thought he snapped his leg. The bone was sticking out of the skin,” another fan shared.
“You can really feel the difference with him out,” a fan pointed out.
You can really feel the difference with him out
— dunkr (@NBAndChill) November 24, 2025
“what is the xray say how many days/weeks,” someone wrote on X.
“Get well soon Ayton🤕” a fan wished Ayton well.
JJ Redick doesn’t know what happened with Deandre Ayton
Despite losing their starting center, the Lakers still pulled a 108-106 win over the Jazz. Luka Doncic led the team with his 33 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Austin Reaves added 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on a lowly 12.5% shooting from 3.
After the game, Redick was asked about what happened to Ayton. According to the head coach, he had no idea what happened to the starting center.
“DA, I don’t actually know what’s going on with him,” Redick said. “He had gotten hit on his leg in the first half and was kinda limping through it and then couldn’t go on the second half. So Maxi coming in at second half really changed the game for us with his physicality.
“Our defense won us the game.”
JJ Redick credits the Lakers’ physicality, toughness, and the spark from Maxi and Gabe to close out the 4th. pic.twitter.com/eZMKiDAybh— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 24, 2025
Fortunately for the Lakers, Kleber’s physical play helped them seal the win, changing the game in the second half.
“Made some plays at the rim, had the big bucket late. But he was great.”
Redick also credited Gabe Vincent for his tenacity on defense. The Lakers will travel back to LA to face the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
