NEW ORLEANS — The Lakers were without another starter on Saturday, with wing Cam Reddish not being available against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, in addition to Rui Hachimura being sidelined for the second consecutive game.
Reddish was ruled out an hour before tipoff because of a right peroneal strain – irritation or inflammation in the tendons that run along the outside of a person’s ankle and foot.
Coach JJ Redick said Reddish dealt with ankle issues in September, resulting in him being a “modified player” during parts of training camp – meaning no live action.
Reddish was sidelined multiple times last season because of right ankle injuries.
“Sometimes you just kind of tweak that stuff,” Redick said pregame. “But as far as I know nothing acute in the sense of like an injury. It’s just banged up.”
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Reddish, who’s in his sixth NBA season and second with the Lakers, entered Saturday with averages of 4.7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. He started in the previous four games after first entering the rotation in the Nov. 4 road loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Hachimura sat for the second consecutive night because of a sprained right ankle after missing Friday’s road win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Third-year wing Max Christie and rookie forward Dalton Knecht started alongside Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Anthony Davis in light of the Lakers’ injuries.
More to come on this story.