LA Lakers injury report: Latest update on Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves’ status (Dec. 13)   

The LA Lakers will bank on Anthony Davis to get them through when they play the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Friday (Dec. 13). With LeBron James ruled out of the marquee showdown against Anthony Edwards and Co., the Purple and Gold will need their center to step up and restore parity to their wobbly campaign.

Davis is available for the Lakers after being on the injury report for (left plantar fasciitis. He has been playing despite battling the heel issue, and with reserve centers, Jaxson Hayes (ankle) and Christian Wood (knee) sidelined, Davis will be playing extended minutes. Also in focus is the availability of guard Austin Reaves.

Reaves is also available to play after being listed as questionable with a left pelvic contusion and is traveling with the team to Minnesota. He has missed four games for the Lakers this season, and suiting up on Friday will be a massive boost for the side as they will need more firepower from their remaining stars in James' absence.

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How have Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves fared this season for the Lakers?

It's been a roller coaster run for Austin Reaves this season. The guard averages 16.7 points on 44.0% shooting from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc. He averages 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks per contest. The 26-year-old is the third-leading scorer for the side behind Davis and James.

Anthony Davis has cooled off after a hot start to the season. At the time of writing, the center averages 27.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and sniping 32.2% of his 3s.

Davis was pegged as an early DPOY and MVP candidate after his staggering numbers saw LA dominate the top five teams in the West. However, with the losses mounting, he has slipped the contention rungs.

The Lakers will need Davis to come good when they face a stern Minnesota side that's peaking at the right time. LA is still placed in a position higher than the T-Wolves with 13 wins but is yet to turn a corner and regain the consistency it started with.

With their December stretch including more challenging opponents, which includes two California teams — Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers need to get back to winning ways. Only time will tell if Anthony Davis can shepherd the side to a string of wins.