Vincent returns from 7-week absence
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent returned from his seven-week injury absence for their game against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Before Wednesday, Vincent had been limited to just four games and missed the previous 24 (including the NBA In-Season Tournament championship game that didn't count in the standings) because of a left knee effusion (swollen joint).
“Just coming in and being hardnosed Gabe,” coach Darvin Ham said of what Vincent will bring. “Someone that can pester the ball. A great off-the-ball defender as well. Competitive. Highly competitive. And someone that can open up space by stretching the floor.”
Vincent, alongside Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura, subbed in at the 3:41 mark in the first quarter for his first game action since the Oct. 30 home victory over the Orlando Magic.
Ham said before the game that Vincent would be on a playing time restriction somewhere between 14-18 minutes.
The Lakers also have a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, the second night of a back-to-back.
“It's gonna take some time, same with Vando,” Ham said of Vanderbilt. “You know, Vando, when he was coming into his first active game, he hadn't played all year. Gabe only played four games. So, you know, you just take it day by day and see how he responds.
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The biggest thing is gonna be (Thursday), see how he wakes up and what he's feeling.”
Before being sidelined with the injury, Vincent, who the Lakers signed to a three-year, $33 million contract as a free agent during the offseason, was the primary reserve guard.
Austin Reaves has taken over that role since being moved to the bench over a month ago, also playing the role of the defacto point guard.
Ham said having the combo of Reaves and Vincent as reserves is “great because it creates the opportunity for a great onetwo punch coming off our bench.”
“And you can throw any set of three guys out there with them,” Ham added. “We can go big. We can go straight 6-8, 6-9 athletic wings with those two. So I'm looking forward to seeing the combinations once again with someone being on the active list now. Just another Rubik's Cube situation. But I'm excited about it.”