As the fate of their playoff lives hangs in the balance, the Los Angeles Lakers will be getting some much-needed help later his week.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Anthony Davis could return to the lineup as soon as Friday barring any type of setback before the game.
Lakers star Anthony Davis plans to return Friday vs. the Pelicans, barring setback, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Davis has been sidelined since Feb. 14 due to mid-foot sprain. Big Lakers-Pelicans game with Play-In ramifications.
Lakers star Anthony Davis plans to return Friday vs. the Pelicans, barring setback, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Davis has been sidelined since Feb. 14 due to mid-foot sprain. Big Lakers-Pelicans game with Play-In ramifications.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022
LeBron James, who hasn’t played since Sunday, is also set to return to the lineup after recovering from an ankle sprain.
LeBron James hopes to return to the Los Angeles Lakers’ lineup Friday after testing his sprained left ankle before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
James, who will miss his second straight game Thursday against the Utah Jazz, returned to Los Angeles earlier this week to continue his injury rehabilitation.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis have seen many highs and lows over their tenure as teammates. After winning the Championship in 2020’s wacky campaign, they have followed it up with mediocrity.
Mostly, it has been injuries that have derailed their past two seasons. Davis, who turned 29 in March, has only played in 73 games since the bubble run.
Having both James and Davis back in the lineup could be the boost the Laker need to secure a spot in the playoffs. Still, it will not be an easy task.
At 31-44 on the season, they’re pretty much locked into the bottom half of the play-in bracket.
So, besides finishing strong to make the play-in, the Lakers will have to beat two different teams to secure a position in the real tournament.
The odds are stacked against them, but hope remains that good health will equate to some success in these closing weeks.
