The Los Angeles Lakers were forced to pivot quickly on Sunday night after starting center DeAndre Ayton exited with an injury in the first half against the Utah Jazz. But in true “next man up” fashion, the Lakers found a spark in a pair of unexpected contributors, Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber, who helped secure a gritty 108-106 victory and push the Lakers to 12-4 on the season.

With Ayton unable to return, Hayes opened the second half as the fill-in starter, while Kleber, typically buried deep in the rotation and barely used this season, stepped into critical fourth-quarter minutes at the five. And he delivered in the biggest moment of the night.

Kleber finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block in 14 minutes. Still, his lone bucket proved massive: a thunderous dunk with 1:21 remain

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