Will 21-time All-Star and Lakers power forward LeBron James take the court for the first of two crucial matchups against the Houston Rockets within the next two weeks? The Lakers face off against one of the Western Conference’s top teams on Monday night in a game with significant playoff implications.
According to the NBA’s pregame injury report, the 6-foot-9 veteran was listed as probable to play despite dealing with a strained left groin. Now, James has officially been cleared to suit up for the high-stakes showdown at Crypto.com Arena, as reported by Underdog NBA.
With a 45-29 record, the Lakers currently hold the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 49-26 Rockets sit in second place, just 3.5 games ahead of Los Angeles. The outcome of these two matchups could heavily impact the playoff race. Jovan Buha of The Athletic noted that if the Lakers manage to win both games, they could push for the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. However, if Houston secures at least one victory, they will claim the tiebreaker.
Beyond James’ status, the Lakers’ injury report remains relatively clear, with the exception of center Maxi Kleber. The 6-foot-10 big man, who joined Los Angeles in the Luka Dončić trade with Dallas, is still recovering from right foot surgery in January.
On the other side, Houston has several players assigned to its G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, including two-way signings N’Faly Dante, Jack McVeigh, and David Roddy. Standard roster player Nate Williams is also with the Vipers.
James has been a key force for the Lakers this season, averaging 24.5 points on 51.1% shooting, along with 8.5 assists and 8.1 rebounds through 63 games. Tip-off for this pivotal game is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on TNT.
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