The Los Angeles Lakers upgraded LeBron James and Luka Doncic to “available” for Sunday night’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena, the club announced in its latest injury report.
James had been listed as questionable with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica, while Doncic was dealing with soreness in his left groin. Their clearance comes after both missed Saturday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, a game in which Los Angeles struggled on the glass and in paint protection.
Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and rookie Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) remain sidelined. The Lakers will, however, regain front-court depth with centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes expected to be in uniform.
Busy stretch for James and the Lakers
Sunday marks the Lakers’ fifth contest in seven days, and James is slated to appear in all five. Head coach JJ Redick has emphasized careful workload management, particularly on back-to-back nights, as the team navigates a season marred by frequent injuries.
Raptors’ injury concerns
Toronto will be without RJ Barrett (ankle sprain), Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain) and JaKobe Walter (right hip pointer). Even so, forwards Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes remain threats; Barnes posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the clubs’ first meeting in Canada, while Ingram added 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Los Angeles heads out on an eight-game road trip after facing Toronto. A victory Sunday would provide a boost for a roster that has fallen back toward .500 following a strong start to the season.
Source: Lakers Nation
