The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Jake LaRavia against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday after the forward was ruled out with a right ankle sprain.
Jake LaRavia (ankle) has been downgraded to OUT for tonight’s game against the Clippers
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) October 23, 2026
LaRavia had been listed as questionable before the downgrade. His absence comes as Collin Sexton is available to make his Lakers debut, giving JJ Redick another option in the backcourt while taking one away on the wing.
The Lakers are also still without Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr. With those two sidelined, Redick will have to cover LaRavia’s minutes using the players already available rather than turning to either of the young forwards.
Jake LaRavia injury interrupts productive Lakers opener
LaRavia was hurt late in Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. He appeared to turn his ankle with 5:34 remaining after scoring 10 points in 18 minutes.
He shot 4-for-5 from the field and made two 3-pointers before exiting. That production gave the Lakers an efficient scoring contribution from a reserve whose availability is now uncertain beyond Friday.
LaRavia needed help leaving the court. Redick did not have a firm assessment to offer immediately afterward, although his initial concern had eased.
Jake LaRavia subbed out and had to be helped off the court after this play: pic.twitter.com/HTxJ43H6dT
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) October 22, 2026
“No update,” Redick said. “I’m probably be more positive than when it first happened. But again, he’ll be evaluated and the next time I talk to you guys, we’ll have an update.”
Friday’s decision confirms that LaRavia will miss the Clippers game. It does not establish a longer recovery timetable, and his earlier questionable designation should not be treated as a guarantee that he will be back for the next game.
Lakers injury report vs. Clippers
Thursday’s availability report cleared Sexton and kept Thiero and Carr out. LaRavia’s subsequent downgrade leaves the Lakers with the following statuses entering Friday’s matchup:
| Player | Status vs. Clippers | Latest development |
|---|---|---|
| Jake LaRavia | Out | Downgraded from questionable with a right ankle sprain |
| Collin Sexton | Available | Cleared to make his Lakers debut |
| Adou Thiero | Out | Remains sidelined after knee swelling |
| Cameron Carr | Out | Remains sidelined with a right oblique strain |
Before Wednesday’s opener, Redick said Thiero would be shut down because of swelling in his knee. Carr was continuing his progression toward returning, while the decision to hold Sexton out was made jointly and did not reflect a setback.
Collin Sexton’s return gives JJ Redick another backcourt option
Sexton had returned to full practice Monday after missing the preseason. He then sat out the opener, delaying the Lakers’ first opportunity to use him in a regular-season game.
His absence had already influenced Redick’s rotation experiments. During the preseason finale, the Lakers’ difficulty generating offense through their reserve ball-handlers without Sexton helped prompt a trial of Quentin Grimes off the bench.
That makes Sexton’s availability relevant to how Redick distributes responsibility when Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves rests. He gives the coach another player to initiate offense, potentially allowing more flexibility in how Grimes is used.
LaRavia’s absence creates a different question: how to divide the wing minutes he occupied against Golden State. Getting a guard back does not settle that decision, and neither a specific replacement nor a revised starting lineup has been confirmed in the availability updates.
For Friday, the Lakers can begin integrating Sexton while adjusting to the loss of a productive reserve. How Redick balances those two changes will offer a clearer picture of the bench than the injury report alone.
