Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Lakers: preview and player stats

Traore (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reports. Traore will miss his first game of the season after being downgraded from questionable to out. The second-year wing was flourishing in a starting role, averaging 15.1 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 24.9 minutes over his past seven games. With Mikel Brown (illness) and Traore unavailable, Egor Demin (leg), Keon Ellis, Chaney Johnson, Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf are candidates for increased roles.

Brown has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans due to an illness, Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today reports. Brown had been sidelined for Sunday's 130-93 loss to the Mavericks due to back injury management and was slated to return to action Wednesday. However, he appears to have fallen ill overnight, as the Nets added him to the injury report as questionable earlier Wednesday before downgrading him to out.

Doncic finished Wednesday's 123-112 win over the Bucks with 32 points (10-25 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 7-10 FT), five rebounds, five assists and three steals across 32 minutes. He exited to the locker room late in the fourth quarter due to an apparent right ankle injury and did not return, Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times reports. Doncic didn't deliver his most efficient shooting effort, though he still led all players in scoring while knocking down a game-high-tying five triples. He has now reached the 30-point threshold in each of his last nine appearances. The superstar floor general also tied for the game-best mark in steals, logging multiple swipes for the fourth time over his last six outings. However, Doncic's status will be worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game at Phoenix, as he landed on Kyle Kuzma's foot and exited to the locker room Wednesday.

Head coach JJ Redick said that X-rays on Reaves' left heel came back negative, but they won't have another update until he undergoes further imaging back in Los Angeles on Thursday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports. Reaves hurt his heel coming down after a layup attempt, but the good news is that an Achilles injury has been ruled out. The Lakers are off until Sunday, but if Reaves needs to miss that game, Ziaire Williams would have a chance to start and Luka Doncic would be extremely busy on offense.

Grimes (finger) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks. Grimes didn't play Monday in Atlanta after scoring 12 points in 32 minutes as a starter in Detroit on Sunday. However, it appears that absence wasn't simply rest during the second night of a back-to-back set, as Grimes will now miss a second straight game. In his absence, Collin Sexton and Cameron Carr could remain involved with the second unit.

Sexton did not return to Wednesday's 123-112 win over the Bucks and required stitches to close a cut on his forehead, Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times reports. Sexton knocked noggins with Ryan Rollins, but it sounds like he's avoided a concussion, so he should be able to get out there for Sunday's game in Phoenix. Austin Reaves (heel) also exited Wednesday's game, and if he needs to sit out Sunday, Sexton would have the chance for some extended minutes.