![\"Rui](\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1030.jpeg?w=1200\")
<\/p>\nThe Lakers will finally welcome back Rui Hachimura from injury on Saturday. The forward missed the last four games with an ankle sprain but was not on the team\u2019s injury report ahead of Saturday\u2019s game against the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Rui last played on Nov. 13 against the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rui Hachimura is off the injury report and will return Saturday against DEN, per the Lakers pic.twitter.com\/WLnk2eGZK3<\/p>\n
\u2014 Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 23, 2024
\nIn his absence, Dalton Knecht has stepped into the starting lineup and flourished. The Lakers, though, have felt Rui\u2019s absence at times, particularly against the Magic when the team was crushed on the boards and struggled with Orlando\u2019s physicality.<\/p>\n
Despite Knecht\u2019s scoring explosion of late, Hachimura will likely retain his spot in the starting lineup. Before Thursday\u2019s game against the Magic, head coach JJ Redick was asked if there was consideration for Knecht to remain in the starting lineup when Rui returned.<\/p>\n
While he said no decision had been made, his \u201cexpectation\u201d was that Rui would eep his spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say right now like there\u2019s no definitive decision,\u201d Redick said. \u201cMy expectation is that Rui would stay in the starting lineup. He\u2019s been awesome for us and I think for the group\u2026whatever designation Dalton has, whether he\u2019s coming off the bench or as a starter, I don\u2019t think his role changes at all. I think for him mentally, there\u2019s no effect to that. Like he\u2019s just gonna be the same guy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a coaching staff, we have to be just cognizant about getting him longer stretches on the court.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n While it might feel like a controversial decision to take Kncht out of the lineup after how well he played, his scoring off the bench translates well. And it wasn\u2019t like the Lakers weren\u2019t having success with Hachimura in the lineup, either.<\/p>\n Regardless of what the lineup looks like, having Rui back in the rotation is a huge win for the Lakers, especially ahead of an important matchup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Lakers will finally welcome back Rui Hachimura from injury on Saturday. The forward missed the last four games with an ankle sprain but was not on… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n