L.A. could've used forward Rui Hachimura, who missed his fourth straight game with an ankle sprain and has greatly improved his rebounding this season while shooting a very high percentage from 3-point range.

Rui last played on Nov. 13 against the Grizzlies. In his absence, Dalton Knecht has stepped into the starting lineup and flourished. The Lakers, though, have felt Rui’s absence at times, particularly against the Magic when the team was crushed on the boards and struggled with Orlando’s physicality.

Redick expects Hachimura will return to the starting unit when healthy, but the coaches will try to incorporate longer stretches on the court for rookie wing Dalton Knecht off the bench.

Lakers starting forward Rui Hachimura has missed the team's last three games with a sprained ankle. There was perhaps some faint hope that he would be able to return for Thursday's game, but he will be out once again. In 10 games, Hachimura is averaging 12.7 points in 33.9 minutes a game while shooting 50% from 3-point range on 3.6 attempts a game.

Rui Hachimura will miss his fourth consecutive game on Thursday evening when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. They have done fine without him, as they're going for their seventh straight win, but they will need him back in ...