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Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Another Player’s Status in Doubt for Thunder Showdown

Published 03/04/2024, 11:42 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Oklahoma City Thunder is on the road to meet the Los Angeles Lakers for the fourth and final matchup of the season series tonight at the Crypto.com arena. The Lakers are currently leading against the top-ranked Thunder 2-1, and are holding on to the 10th spot in the West Conference with a 33-29 record. The only aim they probably have right now is to bounce back from their most recent loss against the Denver Nuggets. On the other hand, we have the Thunder who will look forward to adding another win to their win streak with a 42-18 record.

Thunder at Lakers – Injury report

LeBron James who reached a historic milestone of 40,000 career points, 2 days ago, is listed as “questionable” with a lingering ankle issue. Anthony Davis, battling Achilles tendinopathy, is also listed as “questionable”. Their status remains uncertain, raising concerns about their offensive prowess against a strong Thunders team. Adding to their woes, Cam Reddish is also listed “questionable” because of his ankle injury ahead of the game on Monday. But their troubles don’t stop here.

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They have another setback with Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt’s status as “out”. Vanderbilt is battling a left heel bursitis, sidelining for as many as 20 games so far. Even after returning, his discomfort took the best of him, and his recovery efforts were taking a significant blow, especially against the Celtics, when he again went through a right foot injury. Initial reports suggest that his injury might be severe to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season dealing a major blow to the Lakers. Christian Wood is also dealing with a left knee effusion, leaving him unavailable for the game.

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On the Thunder, there’s nobody listed ahead of tonight’s matchup.

Predicted Lineups: Will LeBron James be able to play?

The Lakers try to continue an arguably tough stretch of their schedule. Even though they have been able to beat the Thunder twice earlier, with good scores, the Thunder do have a great offense overall. Led by the duo Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers are able to contain them a bit.

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As far as their predicted lineups are concerned, we can expect the following names: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russel, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Anthony Davis, to play tonight.

On the other hand, the Thunder, who have won 7 of their last 10 games are coming in strong with their powerhouse, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 31.2 points per game. If all goes well, this is how their predicted lineup can look like: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, and Jalen Williams.

Injuries have taken the best of the Lakers this season. In the two games they’ve won over the Thunder, they held them 120 and 105 points. With both teams solid, it will be a difficult feat, but if the Lakers can similarly contain them as before, they can look forward to more this season.

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In the two games they won, they have held the Thunder to 120, and 105 points. When the Thunder score 120 points or less in a game this season, they are 12-14. That is 14 of their 18 losses. The Lakers need to keep the Thunder under this point mark if they want any chance at winning this game. All in all, it is expected to be a great matchup. Stay tuned for more updates.

Read More: LeBron James Conquered 40,000 – What’s Next for Him?

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Written by:

Dhanraj Majithia

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Dhanraj is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Fueled by the legendary Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality, Dhanraj weaves his passion for the game with in-depth analysis, sharpened by his experience as a state-level shooting guard. His are of expertise lies in breaking down trade reports and their implications for fans.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja