Andre Drummond Out for Lakers vs. Celtics with Toe Injury
Apr 16, 2021
Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond is shown during a timeout in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Drummond was sidelined by the toe injury shortly after he joined the Lakers, and he also missed time on the Cleveland Cavaliers when the team decided to sit him and focus on the future while exploring potential trades. Cleveland ultimately bought out his contract before he joined the contending Lakers for the stretch run.
When healthy, the 27-year-old is a valuable piece in the frontcourt who has two All-Star appearances, four rebounding titles and an All-NBA third-team selection (2015-16) on his resume. The UConn product is averaging 16.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a double-double threat this season.
Look for Los Angeles to rely on the combination of Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell in the frontcourt while Drummond is sidelined by this latest setback.
Andre Drummond Says 'You Can't Expect' Lakers to Have Chemistry Amid Injuries
Apr 13, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 13: Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Cody Zeller #40 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on April 13, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers' struggle to find consistency hasn't gotten any easier since the trade deadline passed and the buyout market came to a crawl.
That's not a surprise for forward Andre Drummond, who joined the Lakers after getting bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers last month. After defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 101-93, on Tuesday, Drummond explained building chemistry will take time. Until then, L.A. can focus on playing tough defense like it did against the Hornets.
Andre Drummond on the challenge amidst all these minor injuries: "You can’t expect us to have much (offensive) chemistry when we have a different (starting) five every night … we hang our hat on defense."
On Tuesday, that defense held Charlotte to 25.7 percent behind the arc, forced 18 turnovers while building an 11-point lead.
That's not to say the Lakers didn't show flashes of offensive chemistry on Tuesday. L.A. shot 41.5 percent from the floor—36.4 percent from three—and assisted on 24 of their 34 made field goals.
"We're still learning," Drummond said. "I'm still learning. Still trying to figure it out. For a team that has so many people out right now and guys that are hurt, we're still finding ways to pull it together and win. It just shows the fight and grind that we have here."
LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (Achilles) both remain out and there's no question the Lakers' entire game plan will take a dramatic shift once they return. With two of the best players in the NBA stepping back onto the court, it'd be foolish to believe otherwise.
The Lakers are 6-4 in their last ten games and holding onto fifth place in the Western Conference. As the defending champions try to get healthy for another deep playoff run, their newest acquisition is trying to keep things simple by working hard on defense. The rest will only get easier after that.
Julius Randle Scores 34 to Lead Knicks Past Dennis Schroder, Lakers
Apr 13, 2021
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 12: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense on Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks during the game on April 12, 2021 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The New York Knicks look like a playoff team.
New York defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-96 in Monday's showdown at Madison Square Garden and improved to 28-27 in the process. Julius Randle led the way for the Knicks, who have now won three in a row as they move closer to their first postseason appearance since 2013.
A solid showing from Dennis Schroder in the absence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis was not enough for the Lakers, who fell to 33-21 and are just 5-8 in their last 13 games.
It appeared as if the Knicks were in danger of falling out of even play-in tournament position when they went 1-5 during a six-game stretch prior to the key three-game homestand that ended against the Lakers.
Then they took care of business at Madison Square Garden against the Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors with Randle and RJ Barrett leading the way to set up an opportunity for a perfect homestand with a win over the Lakers.
Randle was ready.
This story about the advice Kobe gave to Julius Randle is amazing.
He hit from the outside, drew contact and got to his spot in the mid-range on his way to 19 first-half points. His production against his former team helped make up for Barrett's scoreless half, as did Derrick Rose providing a spark off the bench and Taj Gibson turning back the clock in his minutes by battling in the paint and for boards.
While Randle continued to lead the charge as New York pushed its advantage to double digits in the second half, it was far from a solo effort. Reggie Bullock hit multiple threes early in the third quarter, Elfrid Payton was effective as a secondary scorer and Nerlens Noel added solid interior defense.
Yet it was Randle who proved the most unstoppable, which was no surprise considering he said he is "always" motivated to face the team that drafted him, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
It was fitting, then, when he put the game away in crunch time with a critical and-1 to end the Lakers' brief momentum and eightpoints in the final five minutes.
Lakers Offense Went Missing as Knicks Pulled Away
The biggest storyline from a Lakers perspective for every game without James and Davis is who is going to take over the role of go-to scorer.
A different player led the team in points in each of the previous five games (Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Andre Drummond), underscoring both the positive reality there is enough depth to at least compete without the stars and the negative reality that there isn't a clear-cut option to carry the team in crunch time.
It was Schroder and Markieff Morris who took the lead in the early going against the Knicks.
The former darted past New York defenders while attacking the lane and poured in 17 points by halftime. The latter caught fire from three and took advantage of the space created when the Knicks started to collapse on Schroder and others.
However, Los Angeles managed a grand total of 16 points in the third quarter as it fell behind by double digits.
Kuzma provided some scoring amid the overall offensive woes, but he struggled to contain anyone on defense. He had particular issues with Randle and finished with an ugly plus-minus of minus-26, which was the worst on a team that turned it over 24 times.
It also didn't help that Harrell and Drummond combined for three points on the inside as New York shifted additional defensive attention their way. The Purple and Gold made a run to cut the deficit to five in the fourth quarter, but they didn't have anyone to counter Randle with the game on the line.
What's Next?
Both teams are on the road for their next game when the Lakers face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday and the Knicks play the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Jimmy Butler Drops 28 Points as Heat Hold off Injury-Riddled Lakers
Apr 9, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder (17) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
In a rematch of the 2020 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat came out on top for the second time this season.
The Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-104 on Thursday, improving to 27-25 behind 28 points from Jimmy Butler.
The Lakers, who are 32-20, were paced by double-doubles from Dennis Schroder and Andre Drummond, though it wasn't enough to overcome Miami.
Notable Performers
Jimmy Butler, Heat: 28 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL
Victor Oladipo, Heat: 18 PTS, 4 REB
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lakers: 28 PTS, 4 REB
Andre Drummond, Lakers: 15 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST
Shorthanded Lakers Can't Keep Up
The Lakers have missed their two biggest stars lately, with LeBron James out with an ankle injury and Anthony Davis nearing a return from his strained calf. They took another hit when big Andre Drummond was sidelined with a toe injury, but he returned to the lineup Thursday after missing three games.
Marc Gasol, who entered Thursday averaging 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, filled in without him, but getting back their recently acquired center was a major key for Los Angeles against the Heat.
Drummond's presence figured to be even more important Thursday, as it was announced pregame that Kyle Kuzma—who had been filling in for James—would not play due to a calf injury. Wesley Matthews got the start in his place.
After trailing by as much as 11, the Lakers—led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's 15 points—came surging back to take a two-point lead into the break.
While the Lakers battled back in the third and entered the final quarter down by just three on back-and-forth buckets between the sides, Los Angeles started to get sloppy offensively, making a total of 18 turnovers by the start of the fourth quarter and ending the night with 22, which resulted in 33 Miami points.
Turnovers really hurting Lakers... 17 that have turned into 30 points for the Heat... some careless...but have to credit Heat D with that length on the double teams... have to identify that coming and get ball out much quicker
Dennis Schroder was largely responsible for the turnover woes in the start of the third, as he made four in the first four minutes of the frame. He didn't hit his first field goal until there was 3:58 left on the clock, going 2-of-12 from the field. While he did log a game-high 14 assists, he also had a game-high seven turnovers.
Elsewhere, Matthews couldn't totally fill the void of Kuzma with 14 pointsbut only one rebound, while Drummond was good for 15 points and 12 rebounds in his return.
If the Lakers had their main starters—or even their second-stringer in Kuzma—this game could have ended differently. With the season series over, the next time we could get a look at that would come in the NBA Finals.
Heat Take Advantage at the Line, on Turnovers
The Heat flew out to a 32-27 lead in the first quarter, thanks mostly to their strength at the line.
Miami went to the line 18 times in the first quarter and made 16 of those shots, while the Lakers didn't get their first chance from the line until there were 54 seconds left in the frame. Those 16 free points for the Heat made all the difference in an otherwise tight first quarter.
In contrast, it was free throws that eventually gave Los Angeles its first lead of the game when Ben McLemore went to the line and made all three attempts with under four minutes to play. The Heat got a taste of their own medicine in that frame as they were outscored 29-22in the second quarter, and those free throws were just part of the comeback for the Lakers, who went on a 20-9 run late.
FT battle has switched …
18-1 attempts for MIA in the 1st. 14-2 advantage for LAL in the 2nd.
By the break, the Heat's effort—led by 11 points from Jimmy Butler and 10 from Tyler Herro—was for naught as the Lakers stormed back for the lead. The Heat were forced into 12 turnovers in the first half.
Miami took the lead back by the end of the third, though scoring was even for both teams through much of the period. This time, they found themselves on the other end of the turnover troubles, scoring 33 points off of turnovers by the end of the night.
With the Lakers down by seven, Oladipo went to the locker room with under six minutes to play, ending the night with 18 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes.
Luckily, the Heat were able to hold off the Lakers until the end as Butler polished off a 28-point performance.
What's Next?
The Lakers will follow up their Finals rematch with what could very well be a preview of the 2021 Finals when they head to Brooklyn for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip on Saturday against the Nets.
The Heat will head west to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
Lakers' Marc Gasol 'Fully Committed' Despite Losing Starting Job to Andre Drummond
Apr 7, 2021
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 2: Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 2, 2021 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol
said he's "fully committed" to the team despite losing his spot
in the starting lineup after the signing of Andre Drummond.
Gasol starred with 13 points, nine
rebounds, five assists and four blocks as a starter in Tuesday's 110-101 win over the Toronto Raptors with Drummond
sidelined by a toe injury. The three-time All-Star told reporters he understands his
role will change when everybody is at full strength:
"I'll stay ready. I'm going to
tell you this: I'm fully committed to the team. I'll stay ready when
my number is called. I understand we have to get Andre acclimated to
what we're trying to do. We have to get back our two main guysBron [LeBron James] and AD [Anthony Davis] whenever they come backand they have to get that group going and get some chemistry going
with the first unit for them. I'll be ready no matter what happens.
No matter if it's five minutes, 10 minutes, if it's whatever
position. If it's some nights, I might not play. But I'll stay ready,
no matter what. I made that commitment.
"It's been a process for me to
reassess this situation a little bit, but like I said, I'm fully
committed to this team. So, whatever is thrown at me, I'll be ready."
The addition of Drummond was viewed as
a potential game-changer as the Lakers attempt to avoid a slide down
the Western Conference standings while James and Davis are out of the
lineup. He played just 14 minutes in his team debut last Wednesday before
suffering the toe injury, though.
That has thrust Gasol back into the
spotlight, and the 36-year-old has responded well by averaging 9.7 points, 7.0
rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 blocks in 24.5 minutes over the past three games.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel confirmed
after beating the Raptors the team's plans haven't changed despite
the veteran center's strong play.
"No, we're going to start Andre.
That's what we signed him here for," Vogel said. "We need
to get [Drummond] a ton of minutes to get him acclimated to our
system with only X amount of games before the playoffs, and he'll be
our starter. ... [Gasol's performance] doesn't change that."
Vogel added the team will use all three
of its centers, a group that also includes reigning Sixth Man of the
Year Montrezl Harrell, during the stretch run of the regular season.
Gasol said he's going to let his play speak for itself in the battle
for playing time.
"You know, I can make a couple
shots. I can play in the post. I can pass the ball," the 6'11", 255-pound Spaniard said. "I
can do a couple things quite well every now and then."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOMzU9qyOyk?
Vogel noted the team is "hopeful" Drummond can return for Thursday's clash with the Miami Heat.
The Lakers, who are 4-6 over their past
10 games, have dropped to fifth in the Western Conference with a
32-19 record. They want to stay in the top six to avoid the play-in
tournament before the playoffs and own a three-game edge over the
seventh-placed Dallas Mavericks (28-21).
L.A.'s talent level can still match up
with any team in the NBA, but it'll need a full-strength roster for
the postseason, led by a healthy James and Davis, if it wants to
defend its 2020 championship.
Andre Drummond Rumors: Lakers Star Out vs. Clippers with Toe Injury
Apr 4, 2021
Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond is shown during a timeout in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Drummond is expected to sit out Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers due to a torn toenail and bruised right big toe.
Drummond got off to a strong start to the 2020-21 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks through 25 appearances. The Cavs then decided to bench him indefinitely in mid-February while trying to find a trade for the two-time All-Star.
A deal never materialized, however, so he ended up spending seven weeks on the sideline before returning to action March 31 with the Lakers after signing as a free agent following a buyout. He proceeded to suffer a toe injury in his first game with L.A. that immediately forced him back out of the lineup.
Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol will share a vast majority of the minutes at center when the 27-year-old UConn product is unavailable.
Drummond was an important addition for the Lakers to upgrade their frontcourt as they finalize the roster that will attempt to defend their 2021 championship in the playoffs. The team will likely be cautious with him down the stretch to maximize the chances he's at full strength for the postseason.
Lakers' Marc Gasol: Andre Drummond Replacing Me 'A Hard Pill to Swallow'
Apr 3, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol (14) dribbles against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol spoke frankly about what the addition of Andre Drummond means for him.
Addressing reporters after Friday's 115-94 win over the Sacramento Kings, Gasol said the Drummond signing is "a hard pill to swallow because I know I'm going to be out of the lineup at some point."
Gasol signed a two-year, $5.3 million contract with Los Angeles in November. The 36-year-old has been the team's primary starting center in 2020-21, but head coach Frank Vogel was splitting his minutes with Montrezl Harrell.
The Lakers added Drummond as a free agent on March 28 after he received a buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his debut for the reigning NBA champions Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks in the starting lineup.
Drummond and Harrell combined to play 40 minutes in the Lakers' 112-97 loss to the Bucks, even though Drummond left early in the third quarter with a toe injury. Gasol played a season-low six minutes.
Gasol was back in the starting lineup Friday with Drummond out and played 28 minutes. He tied a season high with nine rebounds and dished out six assists against the Kings.
Gasol has struggled to find his rhythm all season. He is averaging career lows in scoring (4.8 points per game), rebounds (4.0) and field-goal percentage (40.5).
The dust has settled in the week-plus since the trade deadline, with the buyout market also taking shape. So, what now? Well, it's time for contenders to build momentum for the playoffs...
Lakers Rumors: Andre Drummond Not Expected to Miss More Than 2 Games with Injury
Apr 1, 2021
Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond is shown during a timeout in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Drummond joined the Lakers on March 28 after receiving a buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was being held out of games by the Cavs for more than a month as the team explored trade opportunities for the two-time All-Star.
He made his debut with Los Angeles on March 31 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 27-year-old scored four points in 14 minutes in the Lakers' 112-97 loss.
Injuries have been a problem for the Lakers throughout this season. Anthony Davis and LeBron James have had extended absences, which has left the reigning NBA champions vulnerable as they look to solidify their playoff positioning down the stretch.
Drummond's absence will likely lead to head coach Frank Vogel putting Marc Gasol back in the starting lineup, with Montrezl Harrell as the primary backup off the bench.
Giannis, Bucks Cruise Past Lakers After Andre Drummond Injury
Apr 1, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Milwaukee Bucks broke a three-game losing streak Wednesday by defeating the host Los Angeles Lakers 112-97 at the Staples Center.
Jrue Holiday led the Bucks with 28 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25. Both excelled on the defensive end, with Antetokounmpo blocking three shots and Holiday adding four steals.
Their efforts helped Milwaukee outscore L.A. 65-45 over the second and third quarters. The Bucks also led by as many as 20 in the second half.
Andre Drummond made his debut for the Lakers and had four points and a rebound in 14 minutes. He exited in the third quarter with a right big toe contusion, but X-rays were negative, per Lakers reporter Mike Trudell. Drummond also spoke with reporters postgame:
Andre Drummond said Brook Lopez stepped on his foot in 1st Q, and it was bothering him more and more until he eventually looked at it at halftime, and noticed that his whole toenail was gone.
Drummond said he was happy to see that the X-Ray was negative, and said that it was going to be a day-to-day thing, where he’s icing and wrapping the toenail.
He added that it is very painful … he has sandals on at the moment as a result.
Giannis Dominates on Both Ends in Double-Digit Win
The once-hot Bucks entered Los Angeles as losers of three straight after winning 13 of 14 contests prior to that stretch.
Granted, one of those games was a six-point loss to the New York Knicks that saw the Bucks rest their stars, but that defeat was bordered by an eight-point loss to the under-.500 Boston Celtics and an ugly 24-point letdown to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That streak is in the rearview mirror after an excellent performance Wednesday, albeit against the shorthanded Lakers.
Antetokounmpo propelled the Bucks with some excellent play on both ends.
On defense, he gave Drummond a rude welcome to purple and gold with this early block:
Antetokounmpo ultimately enjoyed an efficient night, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. He did commit nine turnovers, but his 10 boards and four assists helped make that fact irrelevant in a 15-point win.
Shorthanded Lakers Can't Buy Luck After Drummond Injury
As Trudell noted midgame, the Lakers were playing their 20th straight contest without Davis and sixth consecutive matchup sans James. Losing those two obviously leave a lot of production to replace, and the Lakers have naturally struggled without the duo, going 2-5 since James was hurt midgame against the Atlanta Hawks.
Picking up Drummond as a free agent after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought him out was a solid pickup for a team looking for more production down low. At the very least, he could help in the scoring and rebounding departments in lieu of Davis not being on the floor.
Unfortunately, Drummond's debut lasted only 14 minutes after he left in the third quarter with the toe injury. Trudell described the scene: "Drummond was getting the toe worked on/taped up just before the third quarter started, and Montrezl Harrell played the first few minutes before Drummond replaced him at the 9:29 mark. Harrell returned to replace Drummond soon after, at the 7:55 mark."
He didn't fare well before then with his four points coming on 2-of-6 shooting.
Still, the 27-year-old big man is a two-time All-Star averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game entering Wednesday, and there may have been some rust with the Cavs sitting him since mid-February in hopes of finding a trading partner before the March 25 deadline. That never happened, leading to the buyout.
At any rate, it was encouraging that Vogel said pregame to reporters that Drummond would play normal starter minutes, so his conditioning appears up to par.
But the Lakers can only hope this injury isn't a long-term problem for Drummond as the team begins a seven-game road trip featuring five teams at or above .500.
What's Next?
Both teams will be on the road on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.
The Lakers will visit the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center, and the Portland Trail Blazers will host the Bucks at the Moda Center.
