Quentin Grimes left the Los Angeles Lakers’ 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday with an injured finger, and the first word is encouraging. X-rays on his right hand came back negative. The 6-foot-4 guard had started in place of Luka Doncic, who sat out with lower-back tightness. Late in the fourth quarter, Grimes headed to the locker room with a member of the medical staff and did not return. Los Angeles has not said whether Grimes will play Monday against the Atlanta Hawks, though coach JJ Redick gave a short, hopeful update.
What did JJ Redick say about the Quentin Grimes injury?
Redick addressed the injury in his postgame press conference and kept the details thin. Grimes “banged his finger,” the coach said. He followed with the result: “X-ray is negative, nothing beyond that.”The X-rays were taken at Little Caesars Arena, and the Lakers have not said which finger is hurt. A negative result means no fracture. With Doncic already out, a broken finger would have thinned the guard rotation even more. It still does not clear a player to return.Grimes checked out at the 9:14 mark of the fourth quarter and was not seen on the bench again. The Lakers still held on for the five-point win, their fifth straight.Before the exit, Grimes helped the Lakers build their early lead and finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, including 2 of 5 from three, plus four assists and a steal. Season averages are 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 10 games in a first season with Los Angeles. Twelve points sit well above that average, even on 33 percent shooting.
Lakers have little time to rest before Hawks game
Los Angeles plays Atlanta on Monday, the second night of a back-to-back, so the window to update Grimes’ status is short. Doncic missed Sunday with lower-back tightness, two days after scoring a season-high 53 in a 124-118 win over Portland. It was his second missed game of the season, and Redick answered by moving Grimes into the starting group.Grimes gives the Lakers perimeter defense and shooting, plus secondary ball handling that matters more when Doncic sits. If Grimes cannot go Monday, Redick will have to find those minutes elsewhere.Austin Reaves carried the scoring load instead, putting up a season-high 43. The Lakers led 38-14 in the first quarter, Detroit worked its way back and tied it in the fourth, and Reaves hit several big baskets, including a three in the final minute. Ziaire Williams and Collin Sexton scored 17 apiece. Walker Kessler had 12 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.The Lakers are 9-2 and on a four-game road trip.