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Lakers Injury Report: Uncertainty Looms Over LeBron James and Anthony Davis Ahead of Clippers Clash

Published 02/28/2024, 12:03 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Wednesday will see the Lakers and Clippers clash to have a final regular-season matchup. This will start a series of games in the coming 10 days for the Lakers franchise to launch a sequence of back-to-back games. Of course, they need breaks, possibly more than any other team in the league right now. They’re currently going through a lot of injuries, and have a hectic schedule ahead of them. Tonight’s game will be a chance for them to get a grip on their performance and see how their future in this season turns out.

LeBron James‘ involvement in tonight’s face-off was earlier questionable, but after the 50-50 uncertainty, it seems LeBron is prepping up to play on the court. This was also confirmed by Darvin Hams earlier today. The information came out via a tweet by Jovan Buha, stating, “Darvin Ham said LeBron James is playing tonight but wouldn’t clarify whether he will play tomorrow vs. Washington.

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LeBron has consistently carried the “questionable” designation on the injury report since November but has only sat out for eight games this season, indicating a well-managed schedule. He has maintained impressive statistics, leading the team with an average of 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. His shooting percentages stand at 52% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 74% from the free-throw line.

Anthony Davis, who also held the “questionable” status earlier, is playing tonight against the Clippers, as reported by Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com. He battled an illness earlier, unable to practice on Tuesday, before he got the “questionable” tag. But he is suiting up and hitting the court for the first half of his back-to-back set. Davis has enjoyed a comparatively healthier season, missing only four games due to injury. With averages of 24.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 blocks, and shooting at 55.7% from the floor and 81.0% from the free-throw line, Davis has been a pivotal force for the Lakers.

Despite LeBron and Davis being confirmed to play now, the news can get disheartening for the Clippers fans who were expecting Paul George and Ivica Zubac to play tonight. Both of them are confirmed to miss the highly anticipated final clash of the season series with their cross-town rivals.

 

All in all, there’s hardly any room left for King James and his army to rest at this point, since the third half of the season is underway, and it is high time the Lakers do secure a good seeding before the time is out!

A closer look at LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ face-off against the Clippers

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LeBron James has faced the LA Clippers 44 times, boasting averages of 25.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He holds a commendable 25-19 record against the crosstown rivals, yet, since joining the Lakers, LeBron has secured victories in only five out of 16 games against the Clippers.

Notably, James maintains an unblemished 2-0 record against his former coach Ty Lue’s roster. The Lakers faced a setback in their recent encounter with the Clippers on January 23, where LeBron was sidelined due to an ankle injury. In the two games Bron played against the Clippers, he delivered impressive stats with 30.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists.

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In his last face-off with the Clippers on January 6, King James contributed significantly with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 106-103 victory. On the Other hand, Davis has participated in 33 games against the LA Clippers, maintaining averages of 23.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. In three matchups this season, Davis posted averages of 25.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, leading the Lakers to a 2-1 record in those games.

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Having lost four of their last seven games and with Paul George sidelined, the Clippers present an enticing opportunity for the Lakers to secure their first season series victory against their crosstown rivals since the 2011-12 season. A win would not only add to the Clippers’ recent struggles, but could also play a crucial role in pushing them out of the top four positions. Concurrently, it provides the Lakers with a valuable chance to build momentum and string together victories as they approach a pivotal stretch in their season.

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Written by:

Jayati Bhattacharjee

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Jayati Bhattacharjee is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. She holds a degree in English, carrying a passion for writing which reflects in her research oriented, lifestyle pieces encompassing NBA entities. At the ES NewsDesk, she also covers her astute analysis on injury reports.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja