LOS ANGELES — Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton was not available for Tuesday night’s home game against the Clippers, but the team hopes to have him back by the end of the week.

Coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability that Ayton, who sat out Tuesday because of a right knee contusion, was experiencing swelling and had a bruise but that imaging on the knee came back “clean.”

Ayton suffered the injury when he got hit in the knee during the first half of Sunday’s road win against the Utah Jazz . He sat out the second half because of the injury.

“Don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing,” Redick said. “Hopefully it’s a game-to-game thing, and he’s back at some point by the end of the week.”

Tuesday was Ayton’s second missed game of the season.

He’s averaging 1

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