The Los Angeles Lakers are without All-Stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks. James will miss his sixth game in a row due to a left groin strain, while Doncic will be out with a right ankle sprain. The Lakers are coming off a 126-106 win on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets.
Ahead of the Bucks game, head coach JJ Redick told the reporters that he hopes James will return to the lineup on Saturday. They will play against the Chicago Bulls, for the first time in the 2024-25 NBA season. Having the 40-year-old star back playing for the team will be a huge morale booster for the team.
“Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he’s “hopeful” that LeBron James and Rui Hachimura will play on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls,” Redick said via Mark Medina on X (formerly Twitter).
Redick also said that forward Rui Hachimura could also return against the Bulls. The Japanese sensation has missed 10 straight games due to a left patella tendinopathy. This season, Hachimura has played in 50 games, averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.
NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers star completed a pre-game workout
The Los Angeles Lakers star has now been listed as day-to-day after he completed a pre-game workout. According to Medina’s report on X, the four-time champion’s workout included some sprints and finishing at the basket.
The veteran star has appeared in 58 games this year, averaging 25 points, 8.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Even as the oldest active NBA player, James is still at the top of his game. With his production and Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles, the team has a chance to contend for the championship. Many believe their partnership can help the Lakers have a deep postseason run.
The Los Angeles Lakers home crowd provides players with a much-needed energy
After their win against Denver, the Lakers secured their ninth straight home win. Doncic was appreciative of the energy the fans brought to the game. According to him, the spark that comes from the fans usually helps them gain energy while playing at home.
“I mean, you just feel the energy in the crowd,” he said. “Some crazy shots that I can hit. So, when I hit one of those, I know the crowd goes crazy and just gives energy. I don’t think just for me, so just, and for the whole team. It’s great. It’s a bit more of a break. We haven’t played the fourth quarter yet, but it’s great.”
The Lakers are looking to secure their 10th straight win against the Bucks. Although, it could be a daunting task without Doncic and the other key players in the squad.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
