Facing a must-win game in Phoenix on Tuesday and looking to keep their play-in hopes alive, the Lakers will once again be without star forward LeBron James, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James, who continues to deal with a left ankle sprain, has been ruled out for a second consecutive game and will now have missed three of the last four.
If the Lakers lose to the Suns and the Spurs win in Denver, L.A. would be officially eliminated from play-in contention by the end of the night.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Bulls guard Zach LaVine (knee) will likely miss Tuesday’s game vs. Milwaukee, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). LaVine’s left knee has been an issue for much of the season, though he has been able to play through the discomfort for the most part — this would only be the second game he has missed since the All-Star break.
- Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (ACL) has “really ramped up” his activity in the last week, Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown on Sunday (video link). While Wojnarowski describes Murray as “aggressive” in his efforts to get back on the court, he cautions that the guard is still experiencing some soreness at times in his surgically-repaired left knee.
- Norman Powell (foot) will be a full participant in Tuesday’s practice for the Clippers, according to head coach Tyronn Lue, who noted that the team isn’t playing five-on-five today. Lue is hopeful that Powell will be able to return within the next several days, tweets Mirjam Swanson of The Southern California News Group.
- Asked today about whether Julius Randle (quad) or Derrick Rose (ankle) will play again this season, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau responded, “I don’t see it happening” (Twitter link via Fred Katz of The Athletic).
- Mavericks guards Sterling Brown and Trey Burke are out of the COVID-19 protocols and will be available on Wednesday vs. Detroit, per head coach Jason Kidd (Twitter link via Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News).
- Out since March 14 due to a high ankle sprain, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. Washington (Twitter link). “I think he’s had a really good week, good evaluation,” head coach Chris Finch said (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic). “Just not sure if he’s ready to play in the game tonight, but try to push him today in our ‘stay in shape league‘ and see how everything goes.”
I have a feeling that Laker pick is landing top 5
Around 30%
And New Orleans will be laughing all the way, when it does
What a season for the LAL. Wow!
Does anybody else feel like the average player in the NBA is made out of Paper Mache lately?
Look, I appreciate that none of us will truly understand the beating an NBA player puts on his body, but the “rest days”, the “ah, I’ll just take the rest of the year off”, the “I can’t play again before the playoffs because my back is sore” compared to a decade ago has become crazy. Is there a single player that will play 82 games this year?
Kevin Looney, but not major minutes. A few others.
It is different. The controversy used to be team medicos shooting injured players with cortisone to get them out there. Now players must be conserved for the playoffs, if then… Even some fans seem to want assets more than championships.
Too many games per season and too little rest after the Bubble…
YCPITB …….
You never have to listen to me at all. I never listen to your DA:; I’m not here for the Knicks. I’m here for Ball. But how would you know that. If most of you haters actually knew something about the Knicks. I wouldn’t have to explain it to you. “The Simpletons”
It’s just really hard to comprehend people who only read/write at a 4th grade level. Best wishes to you finishing your 16th year at Southern New Hampshire University (online). We’re all rooting for you, tardo.
So with 79 gms in. And the season about 15 gms ago over. We finally get to start the youth. Makes you wonder who’s steering this ship. Cause it sounds like Dolan ……
Could Quickley save the Knicks from themselves. Nice Triple Double against Magic. All about the draft (15gms ago) now. Praying someone falls to us. Like Obi did in 2020.