The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to face the Miami Heat on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Both teams are looking to bounce back after losing three consecutive games. The Lakers’ most recent victory was a narrow 105-104 win against the Utah Jazz on December 2.
Ahead of the matchup, both teams have released their injury reports. For the Lakers, LeBron James is expected to play, as his name is absent from the list.
However, the team will be without Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood, who are sidelined with knee injuries, and Jaxson Hayes, who is out with an ankle issue. Bronny James is listed as questionable due to a heel injury. Jalen Hood-Schifino and Austin Reaves are also questionable with hamstring and pelvis concerns, respectively.
On the Blazers’ side, Donovan Clingan and Matisse Thybulle are confirmed out due to knee and ankle injuries. Meanwhile, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, and Robert Williams are questionable with quadriceps, foot, and concussion-related concerns.
LeBron James Addresses “Father Time” Claims After Loss Against Atlanta
LeBron James faced criticism after a lackluster performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with many, including Jeff Teague, suggesting that “Father Time” is catching up to the Los Angeles Lakers legend. However, LeBron silenced doubts with a dominating performance against the Atlanta Hawks, where he addressed the speculation about his age and abilities.
“Just going out there and play the game the right way. Compete at a high level. I leave it all on the floor when I’m out there. Time is very limited on how long I’ll play, so I’m just happy to still be able to play the game at that level,” James said in postgame interview.
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LeBron scored 39 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists against the Hawks. Despite his stellar showing, the Lakers fell just short, losing 134-132 in a closely contested battle.
Also Read: VIDEO: LeBron James Gets Real On Lakers’ Heartbreaking OT Loss To The Atlanta Hawks
