Lakers Get Massive Injury News Right After Nuggets Letdown

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost two straight games after seeing their six-game winning streak snapped last week. 

Los Angeles dropped a heartbreaker at home to the Orlando Magic by one point and then got hammered by 25 points on Saturday by the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers' big men didn’t have an answer for Nikola Jokic, who had 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

Additionally, the Nuggets dominated the Lakers in the paint, outscoring them 64-40. That being said, Los Angeles could use additional frontcourt help. Luckily enough for the Lakers help is on the way.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Lakers backup center Jaxson Hayes is probable to return from his ankle injury on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns.

The 24-year-old center has been sidelined for two weeks due to a left ankle sprain in practice. Before going down with the lower leg injury, Hayes was playing well as the backup to Anthony Davis.

The former first-round pick averages 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game this season. The last time we saw Hayes on the floor, he posted 12 points, six rebounds, an assist, and a block in 21 minutes against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 10.

Without Hayes on the floor, Los Angeles has had to steal some minutes with Christian Koloko for the last six games. Koloko averaged 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. The Lakers hope Hayes can give them an immediate boost against the Suns, who have Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee, and Oso Ighodaro.

More Lakers news and analysis: