Rui Hachimura’s status heading into the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings sparked anticipation among fans, as he was absent from the injury report. Lakers head coach JJ Redick indicated during practice that while Hachimura was expected to play, he would face a minutes restriction and would likely come off the bench as he worked towards full health. Redick also stated that his performance in the game would determine whether he would return to a starting role in future matches.
However, in a disappointing blowout loss to the Kings, Hachimura did not see any action. Redick explained that Hachimura was only cleared for one game in this back-to-back series, and the Lakers learned about this limited availability shortly before the game. This led to his designation as a DNP-CD (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision), rather than being ruled out beforehand.
With Redick emphasizing the “severe” nature of Hachimura’s minutes restriction, it remains uncertain how many minutes he will actually log when he eventually returns to the court. Nonetheless, Hachimura’s return is a welcomed development for the Lakers after he missed seven consecutive games due to a calf issue.
The hope is that Hachimura will be able to participate in the upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks, as his return could significantly bolster the Lakers’ lineup. Testing his abilities in live-game situations is essential for him to move past this recent injury and contribute fully to his team moving forward.