LeBron James is set to play in Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as the Los Angeles Lakers have officially listed him as available. Although he was initially marked as probable due to a left groin strain, his participation was largely expected. The 40-year-old star had recently missed some time with the injury but has performed strongly since returning to the lineup.
The Lakers are aiming for back-to-back victories following a disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors. They will take on a Thunder team that recently suffered just their 13th loss of the season, ending their pursuit of a 70-win campaign after a defeat by the Houston Rockets. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch on Tuesday.
James has been putting up impressive numbers since his return. He scored 27 points and dished out eight assists in Friday’s 124-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. That performance followed a 33-point outing in the previous loss to Golden State. For the season, James is averaging 24.6 points, 8.4 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game while playing 35.1 minutes on average. With 66 games under his belt, he is also eligible for league awards.
The Lakers are currently in a tight race in the Western Conference standings, sitting in third place behind the Thunder and Rockets. However, several teams are right on their heels. The Denver Nuggets trail by just half a game, while the Warriors are only a game back. The Timberwolves, Clippers, and Grizzlies are all within 1.5 games, making every contest critical.
A win over the top-seeded Thunder would be crucial for the Lakers in their quest to secure the third seed and avoid the play-in tournament. However, Oklahoma City will be looking to bounce back and won’t make it easy. LeBron and the Lakers must come prepared for a high-stakes matchup.
Besides James, the only other Lakers player listed on the injury report is Maxi Kleber, who continues to recover from right foot surgery.
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