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NEED TO KNOW
Jaxson Hayes will not play when the Lakers face the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 5
The league suspended the backup center for one game after he was seen shoving the Washington Wizards mascot
In video from the incident, G-Wiz collided with a Wizards dancer after being pushed
The Los Angeles Lakers will be withoutJaxson Hayeson Thursday, Feb. 5, after the backup center was suspended without pay for one game for pushing another team's mascot.
The incident occurred before the Lakers-Washington Wizards matchup on Friday, Jan. 30, at Capital One Arena when Hayes, 25, was seen pushing the Wizards mascot during pregame introductions,according to the league.
In a video from the interaction, G-Wiz was seen running with a massive Wizards flag near the baseline when Hayes shoved him.
The mascot then collided with a Wizards dancer who was running onto the floor.
Hayes will miss the Lakers game on Thursday when they return to Crypto.com Arena following the team's annual extended Grammys trip.
Currently in the sixth spot in the Western Conference with a 30-19 record,Luka,LeBron& Co. will likely have their hands full when a resurgent Joel Embiid, first-time All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers come to town.
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On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder experienced a similar — but more extreme — feeling of being shorthanded when10 of their players sat out due to injuries.
As the Thunder took on the San Antonio Spurs, only eight of OKC's players dressed,leaving their bench looking depletedwhen the players took the court.
Among the injured Thunder players were All-StarShai Gilgeous Alexander,Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein,Chet Holmgrenand Alex Caruso.
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Yet the Thunder still made a game of it, eventually losing 116-106.
"Obviously great effort by everybody, we tried to gut that one out, had some guys play some high minutes outside of the first quarter," Thunder coach Mark Daigneaultsaid after the game. "After the first quarter, it was really pretty competitive on our part."
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