The Lakers are restarting after the All-Star break, and let’s face it, this is where the real game begins. They need to get their engines revving for the last stretch, and now that Luka Doncic‘s in the mix, the whole team is on a new vibe. Gone are the days of a dominant big-man approach. It’s all about that perimeter game. Sounds fun? But wait, there is just one thing that every Lakers fan is chirping about ahead of tonight’s matchup-is LeBron in?

Do you remember the Mark Williams trade that completely blew up? The one that blew up faster than their playoff hopes? Well, here’s the kicker – Williams is still in Charlotte while the Lakers were looking for more frontcourt depth. But hey, all jokes aside, both teams have dealt with their own problems heading into this one, and injuries play quite a large role that could shake things up.

LeBron James’ Status & Key Injury Updates for Lakers vs Hornets

Is LeBron good? There was a small problem of foot and ankle discomfort, thus he was out for what would have been his record-setting 21st All-Star Game. The Lakers have him listed as day-to-day but questionable, but he is LeBron. He has played through worse, and if nothing bad happens, he’s likely on the floor. The guy has been playing through some injuries all season long and will probably be in the lineup. If history is any guide, he isn’t going to sit this one out unless he absolutely has to.

The good news is that Luka Doncic is ready to return, although with a restriction on his minutes. The Lakers have been facilitating him back into the action after executing that big trade before the deadline, and don’t forget, even in limited minutes, he can still be a monster. In the two games against Utah, he still dropped 30-9-8 in total. If LeBron sits this one out, you can bet Luka’ll have to shoulder even more of the load.

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As for the rest of the squad—Jaxson Hayes (facial contusion), Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Gabe Vincent, and Cam Reddish? All off the injury report, signaling they are good to go.

Now, for Charlotte—the big news is that LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams, who were originally expected to miss this one, are now probable. That’s huge for the Hornets, especially since LaMelo is their entire offense when he’s healthy. Meanwhile, Josh Okogie (hamstring), Tre Mann (back surgery), and Grant Williams (ACL) are OUT. Moussa Diabate? Day-to-day.

What The Lakers Need To Do To Win: Lineups, Strategy & Key Matchups

Projected lineups for tonight’s showdown:

Lakers:

PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: Rui Hachimura
PF: LeBron James (if available), Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Alex Len, Jaxson Hayes

Hornets:

PG: Elfrid Payton
SG: Nick Smith Jr.
SF: Josh Green
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Moussa Diabate (day-to-day)

Historically, the Lakers have had the upper hand in this matchup—they lead the all-time series 43-25. L.A. pulled off a 112-107 win on January 27 the last time these two teams squared off. It was close, though, so the Hornets aren’t just getting rolled over.

If the Lakers want to take care of business tonight, attacking the paint is the move. Charlotte doesn’t have much size inside, if Mark Williams doesn’t play, so getting downhill and finishing at the rim should be a priority. If Luka and Reaves can control the pace, the Lakers should be in full control of the offense.

Defensively, Miles Bridges is the guy to watch. With LaMelo potentially back, though, Bridges has been Charlotte’s main offensive weapon lately. If the Lakers can limit him, the Hornets are gonna have a tough time keeping up.

The Lakers have been on a rollercoaster ride this year—first, the LA fires pushed this game back from January 9th, then came the blockbuster Luka trade, and let’s not forget the drama of a failed Hornets deal. With all this chaos, do the hoopsters have the mental toughness to stay locked in and chase that playoff dream?