DENVER — Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton had an early exit from Thursday’s road game against the Nuggets because of a knee injury.
Ayton played his initial four-minute stint to start Thursday’s game before backup big man Jaxson Hayes subbed in for him at the 7:30 mark of the first.
The 7-foot Ayton used one of the team’s stationary bikes after being subbed out before going back to the locker room during the first half.
The Lakers ruled Ayton out during the third quarter, with the team not specifying which knee was causing Ayton troubles.
Ayton missed two games before the All-Star break because of right knee soreness.
Hayes started the second half in place of Ayton.
Backup big man Maxi Kleber wasn’t available for Thursday’s game because of back soreness.
