The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong start behind the steady backcourt of Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. Their 9-4 record reflects solid play, but it could have been better if the full roster had been playing. Even with Reaves and Doncic holding things together, stretches without LeBron James have exposed clear gaps in the lineup.

The Akron native, who has been dealing with a sciatica injury, has yet to make his season debut. Without him, it’s safe to say that the Purple & Gold are nowhere near their best, which is exactly what they need to be tonight as they pay a visit to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. So, is LeBron James up for the task?

Is LeBron James playing tonight against the Bucks?

Unfortunately, James will remain on the sidelines for tonight’s game as he recovers from his sciatica injury. This massive on-road clash with the Bucks will be King James’ 14th consecutive missed matchup. Of course, this is concerning for the Lakers. That is because, despite his age, the forward has been a real asset for his team.

Last season, the veteran averaged 24.4 points along with 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game for his team. Nonetheless, James’ absence tonight is certainly disappointing, but there has been a positive update on the Lakers star’s status, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that LeBron James recently participated in his first 5-on-5 practice and is gearing up for his return.

The franchise is reportedly targeting a mid-November return, which means we can soon expect to see LeBron back in action. However, until that happens, the Purple & Gold will have to continue working with what they have. Speaking of which, what’s the status of the other Lakers stars?

Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers injury reports before tonight’s clash

Apart from LeBron James, the Lakers are nearing their full health except for a few injuries. Rui Hachimura (left calf soreness) and Gabe Vincent are not available for this clash. The 29-year-old guard is out for this game because of an ankle injury. However, similar to James, Vincent is also ramping up his rehab, as he has made significant strides in his recovery. Besides this, Marcus is questionable for a viral illness.

So, it would not be much of a surprise if we see the Purple & Gold enter the upcoming games without any injuries. However, sadly, their opponents tonight, the Bucks, cannot expect the same. It is because Milwaukee has a couple of its stars ruled out indefinitely, meaning not only will they miss tonight’s action, but also have no fixed timeline for their return.

The players in question are none other than Kevin Porter Jr. and Taurean Prince. While Prince just underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck, Porter Jr. has also undergone surgery, but for his right knee meniscus injury. So, both these Bucks stars will remain on the sidelines tonight. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be something that Milwaukee won’t be able to deal with.

However, the biggest issue that Milwaukee could face tonight is that of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence. The Bucks superstar, who returned to action on Friday after missing two games dealing with a left knee patellar tendinopathy, has been listed as questionable for tonight’s second leg of a back-to-back for the Bucks. Keeping that in mind, a lot could change for his team.

Bucks vs Lakers predicted lineups

So, here’s how the Los Angeles Lakers will lineup without LeBron James:

Meanwhile, here’s how the Milwaukee Bucks will lineup without their couple of players:

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When and where to catch the action live

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s massive battle between two cross-conference heavyweights.

Game preview and prediction

Well, straight off the bat, tonight’s game will depend entirely on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability. The Bucks only have a chance in tonight’s game with him on the court. If he doesn’t play despite missing LeBron James, the Lakers will be too hot to handle for the Bucks. Even though the Bucks have won their last two clashes against the Lakers, if the Greek Freak doesn’t play tonight, there’s no reason to believe that the Purple & Gold will not end their road trip with a dub.