NBA: LeBron James Prepares For Return Against Pacers
The Los Angeles Lakers will have LeBron James back in the lineup for Saturday’s pivotal road game against the Indiana Pacers, coach Frank Vogel.
James participated in the team’s Friday practice and had been listed as questionable before Vogel’s announcement. James has missed six consecutive games since a brief, two-game return from a lengthy ankle injury.
James, 36, has averaged 25.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.8 assists across 43 games this season.
Vogel also indicated that Dennis Schroder, who has been out since early May while in COVID-19 protocols, would play Saturday. Schroder is L.A.’s third-leading scorer at 15.5 points per game.
The Lakers’ other superstar, Anthony Davis, missed Wednesday’s 124-122 win agsint the Houston Rockets with a groin injury but is expected to be in the lineup.
Davis, 28, has been limited to 34 games this season, but has averaged 21.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks when he has been on the court.
The Lakers (40-30) have won three straight and, with two games remaining, can still pass Portland, Dallas or both to ascend as high as No. 5 in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in tournament.
The Lakers currently hold the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference standings.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
