Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes was on the sidelines vs. Grizzlies with sprained ankle

Jaxson Hayes is averaging 6.3 points and a career-high 4.6 rebounds per game in 2024-25.

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EL SEGUNDO– Los Angeles Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes sprained his left ankle during practice and will not play when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night (10 ET, ESPN).

Lakers said the injury happened Tuesday. Hayes will be re-evaluated within two weeks.

The 7-foot Hayes is averaging 6.3 points and a career-high 4.6 rebounds per game as the top backup to Anthony Davis. The only other healthy player over 6-foot-9 on the Lakers’ roster is 7-foot freshman Christian Koloko, who has played in just two games.

Hayes scored a season-high 12 points The Lakers’ 123-103 victory over Toronto Sunday night after Davis was poked in the eye by Jakob Poeltl midway through the third quarter and could not continue. Hayes played a season-high 35 minutes last week at Memphis when Davis sat out to rest his sore heel.

Davis intends to play Wednesday despite his latest eye injury, but the Lakers will be without Hayes and big man Christian Wood, who suffered a setback in his recovery from knee surgery and still hasn’t played this season.