After suffering a groin injury in a loss to the Boston Celtics nearly two weeks ago, LeBron James has missed each of the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven games. In that time, the Lakers went 3-4. It is fair to assume that the Lakers want him back on the floor as soon as possible.
Recently, head coach JJ Redick said he was hopeful that James could return against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. If the Lakers can get him back on the court on Saturday, it would give them a big reinforcement as they aim to end the season on a high note.
The Lakers officially made an announcement regarding James that will impact their game against Chicago.
It has yet to be officially determined whether the four-time champion will return against the Bulls. However, the team has upgraded him to questionable, and a return on Saturday now seems like a real possibility.
In 58 games this season, James is averaging 25 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. Additionally, he is shooting 51.7% from the field and 38.4% from the three-point line. When healthy, James is still one of the best players in the NBA, and he is essential to the Lakers’ success.
With just a few weeks left in the season, the Lakers currently own the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. However, they are only one game behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 2 seed. Now that James’ return could be imminent, the Lakers will be in a good spot to gain momentum heading into the playoffs.
Lakers vs Bulls Injury Report: Will Luka Doncic play tonight?
Luka Doncic sat out in the Lakers’ 89-118 loss to the Bucks on Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers (43-26) will conclude their five-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls (30-40) on Saturday night. The Purple and Gold enter the fixture back on a 29-point blowout loss against the Bucks which snapped their nine-game winning streak at home.
The Lakers are third in the West, behind the Thunder and Rockets. Los Angeles have gone 5-5 in their last ten games due to regular injuries to key starters. The short-handed Lakers are 3-1 in their current homestand and well-ahead in the race for the Play-In Tournament.
On the flip side, the Bulls are coming off a 128-116 win over the Kings. Chicago will take on Los Angeles next week also in the final game of the season series. With a 6-4 record in the last 10 games, the Bulls are sitting ninth in the East.
Will Luka Doncic play tonight?
Luka Doncic, who sat out in the Lakers’ 89-118 loss to the Bucks on Thursday, is listed as probable for the final game of the current homestand. The five-time All-Star guard is likely to feature in the starting lineup on Saturday night.
Doncic scored 31 points in his previous game for the Lakers and has averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists on 44% shooting in the regular season. The Lakers are 11-5 when Luka Doncic played in the starting lineup.
Apart from Doncic, LeBron James is listed as questionable and will miss his eighth straight game. Rui Hachimura’s status is also upgraded to questionable.
Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt are also listed as probable. Reaves was not part of the Lakers’ home game against the Bucks. Gabe Vincent’s status is downgraded to questionable. Maxi Kleber remains out due to right foot surgery recovery.
Luka Doncic’s player props against Bulls
Points: Over/Under 29.5
Rebounds: Over/Under 8.5
Assists: Over/Under 7.5
Three Pointers Made: Over/Under 3.5
According to the betting props, Luka Doncic, 25, is likely to drop another 30-point performance. The points line is 29.5, which is a bit higher than his in-season average of 27.4 points per game. In his last ten games, the former Mavs guard recorded at least 30 points seven times.
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