Is Luke Kennard playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers sharpshooter

2 min read
Is Luke Kennard playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers sharpshooter

Is Luke Kennard playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers sharpshooter

Kennard struggled in Game 1 on Tuesday after playing a major role for the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Now, he might miss game 2 entirely.

Is Luke Kennard playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers sharpshooter

Kennard struggled in Game 1 on Tuesday after playing a major role for the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Now, he might miss game 2 entirely.

The Los Angeles Lakers' depth is being tested once again as they prepare for Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. After a standout first-round performance, sharpshooter Luke Kennard is now listed as questionable due to neck soreness.

Kennard's status was added to the injury report on Wednesday, and he remains questionable as of the latest 5:30 p.m. update. This comes after a tough Game 1 outing, where he shot just 1-for-4 from the field, finishing with seven points, five rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers. However, his recent form tells a different story: during the Lakers' first-round series win over the Houston Rockets, Kennard was a key contributor, averaging 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting an impressive 44.6% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. He erupted for 27 and 23 points in the first two games of that series, helping LA build a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Lakers acquired Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline on Feb. 5, sending Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick in return. Since joining the team, the 29-year-old has provided a much-needed shooting spark at Crypto.com Arena, quickly becoming a reliable complementary piece alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

If Kennard is sidelined for Game 2, it would add to the Lakers' growing list of injury concerns this postseason. Luka Doncic has been out for a month with a grade 2 hamstring strain and recently revealed he was given an eight-week recovery timeline, meaning he likely won't return until the end of the Western Conference Finals. Jarred Vanderbilt is day-to-day with a dislocated right pinky, and Austin Reaves has struggled since returning from a grade 2 oblique strain in Game 5 against Houston, shooting just 30.4% from the field.

With the Lakers' bench already stretched thin, Kennard's potential absence could significantly impact their offensive rhythm. Stay tuned for updates as tip-off approaches.

Like this article?

Order custom jerseys for your team with free design

Related News

Back to All News