The Lakers met the Raptors with 34 rotation minutes on the injury list, nearly all of them Ziaire Williams'. That is a light load by league standards, which is why one name carries so much weight.
The Missing Minutes
By our count, the Lakers have lost 239 player minutes to injury since opening night, which makes them the 22nd most-hurt club of 30. Their worst single day reached 70 minutes. Today the figure is 34, against 1,482 across the league. Williams accounts for 28.4 of those, his per-game average this season, and Adou Thiero for the other 6.0. This is a team with a seed of No. 4, a 4-2 record and a rotation that is mostly whole.
A Listing That Flipped
Williams went from Day-To-Day on Oct. 31 to Out on Nov. 1 with a left foot injury. By our count, 66 of 113 players newly listed day-to-day around the league since Oct. 20 missed their team's next game, or 58 percent. On this club it was 1 of 1, and Williams is that one. Lakers Nation reported he is out against Toronto. His listing carries Nov. 2, the Heat game, as the date to watch. He has played four of six games, averaging 11.3 points and shooting 46.7 percent from three in that small sample.
Who Fills the Gap
Toronto is 3-2 with a net rating of 10.8 through five games, against 6.0 for Los Angeles through six. The Raptors are without Kawhi Leonard, and Scottie Barnes is averaging 24.0 points. The Lakers have Austin Reaves at 23.8 points and Luka Doncic at 36.2 over five games, so the scoring is not what thins out. The wings are. Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes and Jake LaRavia absorb Williams' minutes, and Thiero is not due back until Nov. 9. Kessler adds a smaller thread. He sits nine blocks short of 500, and at 2.8 a night this season he would get there in roughly four games, if he holds the pace.
Who is out for the Lakers against the Raptors?
Ziaire Williams (left foot) and Adou Thiero (left knee) are both listed Out. Lakers Nation reported that Williams will not play against Toronto.
How hurt are the Lakers right now?
Less than most of the league. By our count they have lost 239 minutes to injury since opening night, 22nd most among 30 teams, and 34 minutes are out today.
