The Lakers’ backcourt is about to get healthier.
Backup guard Collin Sexton was taken off of the team’s injury report and is expected to be available for Friday’s home game against the Clippers after dealing with a strained right soleus (calf).
Sexton sat out of Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Warriors and the entire preseason with the injury.
He was a full participant in practice for the first time on Monday, but sat out against the Warriors.
“No setback, no setback,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. “Collaborative decision with performance, everyone involved. I always say this, with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence.”
Sexton’s debut will give the Lakers another reliable ball-handler behind superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.
With the rotation being shortened, Quentin Grimes was used as a reserve on Wednesday and last Friday’s preseason finale loss to the Nuggets to give the Lakers another backcourt ball-handler off the bench.
The 6-foot-3 guard, who the Lakers signed to a two-year, $19.2 million contract in July, has career averages of 18.3 points and 3.6 assists.
“I definitely feel like when I’m watching the games, I’m more eager to get out there,” Sexton said earlier in the week. “I’m super excited to get out there, and I can see where I can fit in pretty easily. Even just on the defensive side, bringing that energy, bringing that juice and trying to disrupt. Not always turning the ball over and get someone to turn it over for just disrupt and bring the clock down.
“And then offensively, getting to the paint. That’s something that I’ve done really well in my career. And then spacing, making sure I’m spacing for the guys like Luka, AR, even just when Walker [Kessler] gets in the pocket, being ready to shoot on the back side. So, just finding ways that I can help the team, when I’m watching the game, and even just watching, I watched a few of the games after that just to see as well.”
More encouraging news came on the injury report with Jake LaRavia being listed as questionable because of a sprained right ankle he suffered during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win.
