Prior to their matchup with the Orlando Magic on Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers made their injury report public.
Superstar LeBron James has been designated by the team as probable for the game due to tendinitis in his left ankle. Rui Hachimura (possible contusion to left eye) and Cam Reddish (possible soreness to right foot) join him.
Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) and rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino (right patella contusion) will miss the game for the Lakers.
The fact that James is listed as likely is fantastic news for the Lakers, who faced the Sacramento Kings in overtime on Sunday.
Considering that Monday’s game is the second night of a back-to-back, it’s encouraging that James, given his likely situation, is willing to try.
In addition to scoring 27 points on 11 of 19 shots (3 of 8 from 3-point range) and dishing out eight assists and fifteen rebounds, the four-time NBA champion had a fantastic game on Sunday. James scored the most points in a game so far this season.
James has played 35 minutes or more in each of the team’s last two games, despite the Lakers supposedly having a new strategy for controlling his minutes this season. It’s likely that he doesn’t think Monday’s competition will require that much preparation.
Hachimura just had his greatest performance of the early campaign, grabbing six rebounds and scoring a season-high 11 points in the Kings defeat. Hachimura’s total point total in the team’s opening two 2023–24 games was merely 13.
The Lakers would love to win on Monday after dropping their first three games of the season, especially because it doesn’t seem like James or Anthony Davis will miss this game to recover.
The Magic are 2-0 on the year going into this matchup. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in their final game of the season after defeating the Houston Rockets in their season opener.
Orlando is currently on a four-game road trip that includes games against the Utah Jazz, Portland, the Lakers, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The game on Monday night is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. PST from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
