Lakers Clear LeBron James To Play Friday Against Clippers
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The Los Angeles Lakers upgraded LeBron James to available for Friday night’s game against the L.A. Clippers after the forward was listed as questionable earlier in the day with soreness in his left knee.
Head coach JJ Redick told reporters that the 41-year-old felt discomfort when he woke up, prompting the initial downgrade. Following his customary pregame workout at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, medical staff cleared James to play.
With James in uniform, the Lakers expect to field a fully healthy roster for the first time this season. Redick indicated the veteran’s minutes will be watched closely to avoid any setbacks during the stretch run.
Austin Reaves is no longer under a minutes restriction, and Luka Doncic—still the league’s leading scorer—returns after missing the four games preceding the All-Star break. The trio of James, Doncic and Reaves provides Los Angeles with multiple primary ball-handlers, a combination the club has rarely deployed together for extended periods.
The Lakers aim to establish on-court chemistry immediately out of the break as they open the second half against a Clippers team playing the back end of a back-to-back.
Forward Rui Hachimura echoed widespread sentiment about James’s impact, saying fans may not fully appreciate the four-time MVP until he retires.
Source: LakersNation.com
