The Los Angeles Lakers have released their injury report for Monday’s game against the Utah Jazz, and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) is listed as questionable, while Cam Reddish (left knee effusion) is out.
Furthermore, Anthony Davis (left ankle sprain/bone bruise) is expected to play.
James had been battling with an ankle injury for some time and had been able to play through it until Saturday night’s game, when he was forced to sit out. LeBron has appeared in 36 of the Lakers’ 40 games this season, an impressive feat for a 39-year-old in his 21st NBA season.
While it is unclear whether James will be able to play against the Thunder, receiving a couple of additional days of rest by sitting out the Jazz game has to have helped. Given the Lakers’ current position in the standings, there’s no doubt James will do everything he can to be on the court with his teammates against a difficult Thunder club.
Meanwhile, Reddish appears to be in a different situation as a result of the left knee effusion that has bothered him. Reddish has started the last two games, although he has been unable to return for the second half on both occasions.
Darvin Ham stated that Reddish’s knee ailment would have to be addressed when the team came home, and it now appears that he will miss Monday’s game. The hope is that the knee issue is minor and will heal if he misses a game or two.
This is just the latest setback for Reddish, who has missed a few games this season due to minor injuries.
Given Reddish’s knee injury, the Lakers may have a starting spot open in the short term. D’Angelo Russell started in James’ place against the Jazz and scored a season-high 39 points, so it’ll be fascinating to see if Ham keeps with that or moves size to the wing in the starting lineup.
LeBron James believes the Lakers will be unable to win without Anthony Davis.
While a lot of Lakers players have been injured this season, Davis has been in the lineup for the bulk of games.
With how brilliantly Davis has played this season, he is critical to the Lakers’ success, so much so that James stated the club cannot win without him.