The Los Angeles Lakers are set to get Jake LaRavia back for Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz after the forward missed one game with a sprained right ankle.
LaRavia is no longer on the injury report, while Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr remain out. The update gives JJ Redick another forward to work into his rotation after LaRavia was unavailable against the Los Angeles Clippers.
LaRavia injured the ankle during Wednesday’s opener against the Golden State Warriors. He was initially questionable for Friday before the Lakers ruled him out against the Clippers.
Saturday’s report moves his status beyond the possibility of a quick return that Redick had discussed before that game. He is now expected to be available at Utah.
Lakers injury report vs. Jazz
LaRavia’s removal from the report is the change for Sunday. Thiero and Carr remain unavailable, so the Lakers are getting one rotation option back without having their entire group available.
| Player | Status vs. Jazz | Latest update |
|---|---|---|
| Jake LaRavia | Off injury report | Expected to return after missing the Clippers game |
| Adou Thiero | Out | Remains unavailable |
| Cameron Carr | Out | Remains unavailable |
The return gives Redick another choice when dividing minutes on the wing. The availability update does not specify LaRavia’s playing time or indicate a change to the starting lineup.
JJ Redick had hoped for a short Jake LaRavia absence
Redick said before Friday’s game that LaRavia had wanted to play, but his ankle was not ready after shootaround and treatment.
“We talked to him this morning before shootaround and he was going to try to give it a go,” Redick said. “He went to the treatment room and it’s just not there,” Redick said during his pregame press conference before the Clippers game. “But he’s hopeful he can be back Sunday if not Tuesday.”
The Lakers’ latest report puts LaRavia on track for the earlier of those two possibilities. His absence interrupted an efficient first appearance of the season.
Against Golden State, LaRavia scored 10 points in 18 minutes, shooting 4-for-5 with two 3-pointers.
Redick’s assessment of that performance went beyond the shooting. The coach described LaRavia’s confident catch-and-shoot offense as a bonus alongside contributions that were less visible in a box score.
“I saw him being himself,” Redick said. “When he’s shooting with confidence and making catch and shoot 3s, that’s an added bonus,” Redick said. “We have a group of guys that do a lot of things to impact winning that don’t necessarily show up in the box score, and certainly won’t show up in a highlight reel on Instagram. He’s a winning player.”
That explains why his availability matters even without a promised increase in minutes. Redick can bring another complementary player back into the group rather than continuing to cover his absence.
The immediate question is how LaRavia fits back into the rotation at Utah. Saturday’s report answers whether he is expected to be available; Sunday’s game will show how Redick uses him.
