For once, the Los Angeles Lakers might have caught a break. Sometimes the basketball gods just lend a hand. For the Lakers, that moment came on the afternoon of Oct. 27, when news dropped that Anthony Edwards would miss two weeks with a hamstring strain.
Anthony Edwards’ injury might be the boost the Lakers needed
Shams Charania reported, “Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will miss two weeks with a right hamstring strain.”
Just like that, the Lakers’ what looked like another tough stretch for the Lakers just got a whole lot lighter. They did not even have to do anything.
The Lakers have been hit hard early this season. Luka Doncic, who has looked absolutely amazing to start off the new season, is sitting out at least a week with a left finger sprain and a lower leg contusion.
LeBron James is still out with that sciatica issue, with no clear indication of when he will be able to lace up again. Most teams would crumble under that kind of bad luck, especially when it happens to their two most important players.
Instead, the Lakers are finding ways to hang around, and even win. Austin Reaves just had a career night against the Sacramento Kings, going off for 51 points, nine assists, and 11 rebounds in a big 127–120 victory. It was one of those games where you could feel the energy shift.
With the Timberwolves coming up again, things suddenly feel different. The Wolves are without Edwards, their top scorer and that should be a massive blow to their squad.
The Lakers already beat them once this season, 128–110, in a blowout where Doncic dropped 49 points and made the Wolves look helpless, but this time, both sides will be missing their stars. That right there levels the playing field.
For Los Angeles, all they really need is one of these upcoming games to go their way. If they can split the next few while Doncic rests up, that is a win in itself. Surviving the grind in the West is half the battle.
It is still early, and there is still a long road ahead, but the vibes finally feel like they are trending in the right direction. The team’s competing, the role players are stepping up, and now they have got a schedule break falling right into their lap. The Lakers will need to take advantage.