Coming off an impressive 25-point, 13-rebound performance against the Toronto Raptors, the expectations for Deandre Ayton reached the roof. But he could manage only four points and eight boards in 15 minutes against the Denver Nuggets. The Los Angeles Lakers center, surprisingly, didn’t even start in the second half, making fans wonder what transpired on the court.

With a minute left in the second quarter, Ayton got his eye poked and has been out since. He went to the locker room but did not return. Jaxson Hayes started in his place, while Drew Timme also got 11 minutes each off the bench.

Further details regarding the injury have not yet been released. But the Lakers announced the player’s status in the fourth quarter. After initially being tagged as questionable to return, the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game due to the left eye injury. In Ayton’s absence, the Lakers outscored the opposition 29-17 and 29-19 in the last two quarters, on the back of Luka Doncic’s triple-double.

Doncic scored 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists to rally past the short-handed Nuggets, 115-107. Meanwhile, LeBron James had another solid outing with a near triple-double of his own with 19 points, 8 assists, and 9 rebounds. Up next, they will visit cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers.

For now, Ayton’s status for the next game is uncertain. Lakers head coach Redick joked that he looked like a “pirate,” but hoped the damage was “bare minimum.”

Ayton will likely undergo tests to determine the extent of the issue. The center has been relatively healthy this year. He has played in 37 of the 42 games. Before his perfect shooting night against the Raptors, the 27-year-old missed a game against the Portland Blazers due to left knee soreness. What does the future look like for him in LA?

JJ Redick appreciates Deandre Ayton’s improvement in form

Deandre Ayton became only the fourth player in Lakers history to have 20 points and 10 rebounds with a perfect shooting record from the field, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, and Mitch Kupchak. The improved offensive performance has not gone unnoticed, and Redick has clarified that Ayton’s involvement must remain a priority moving forward.

“Yeah, he was phenomenal,” Redick said postgame. “He’s had a number of these games where he scores efficiently, but really just from a production standpoint to get 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds that he’s had games like this. It’s just a huge thing for our team, particularly against teams that red. And that’s where I thought he made a huge difference today.”

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In fact, Ayton was also the only Lakers player since the 1977-78 season to turn in 25 points on perfect shooting while recording no turnovers in a game.

The Lakers will hope to avoid any further injuries to their roster, as Austin Reaves will finally join the team in the near future. The Purple and Gold could really use some lineup stability and urgent reinforcements in defense alongside Ayton as they head into the second half of the season.