Jacob Sisneros
2 min read • April 04, 2023
Posted in
With three games remaining, the Lakers are positioned well to make the play-in tournament after winning 7 of their last 10 games. Injury designations are nearly irrelevant at this point (at least for teams in the playoff hunt), as it’s all hands on deck for the Lake show.
LeBron James is the only Laker who continues to be limited by injury. He has performed well since returning from his Feb. 26 foot injury, but the type of injury he is managing forces him to limit his minutes or risk reinjury.
He has averaged 30.5 minutes in four games back, after averaging roughly 36 minutes in the previous 47 games this season.
Although Anthony Davis is on the injury report, his injury is nothing new and he's listed as probable.
D'Angelo Russell was originally listed as probable but has been downgraded to questionable with left foot soreness. He didn't play in the second half against the Rockets with the same issue.
Outside of those three, Mo Bamba is the only other Laker on the injury report. He will miss the contest with a left ankle sprain.
The Lakers have averaged 121.5 points in the last four games since the return of King James. The Jazz, meanwhile, have allowed 117.6 over their last five contests.
The Jazz, currently in 12th place, are down sixth man Jordan Clarkson (finger dislocation), rookie Walker Kessler (concussion protocol) and veteran Rudy Gay (lower back soreness) for this contest.
Lauri Markkanen has also been ruled out with a left hand contusion, while Collin Sexton will play for the first time since suffering a left hamstring strain in mid-February.
Markennen had 23 points and 9 rebounds in 34 minutes against Brooklyn on Sunday. He had missed the previous two games and played in two of the last six.
The Jazz are 3-7 in their last 10, dropping 2.5 games out of the play-in with 4 games remaining in their schedule.
Utah has gone 7-11 since Sexton’s hamstring injury on February 15. They are undefeated against the Lakers this season, with both wins coming in early November.
The Lakers are favored by 8 points on the road in Utah, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Los Angeles currently has the eighth best odds to win the NBA Finals at +3000.
Sign up here for our FREE weekly newsletter and you'll get the best NFL, CFB, NBA and MLB injury insights from our Pro Sports Doctors plus Free Picks delivered straight to your inbox to give you an edge in betting and fantasy! Right now you'll also get one FREE month of SIC Picks - our best injury-based picks - valued at up to $200. Details sent instantly upon providing email.
Written by Jacob Sisneros
