Eight Lakers players are listed as injured before their pivotal game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While several team members are listed as doubtful, Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip spasm) is listed as probable for the game. On Thursday, LeBron James (left calf contusion), Cam Reddish (right groin soreness), Jaxson Hayes (left elbow soreness), and Max Christie (left calf contusion) are all questionable.
For the past four games, Christie has been a member of the Lakers starting lineup. In the event that Christie is unable to play, Reddish, who played against Detroit on Wednesday off the bench, may be able to start. The Lakers are hoping that both players can play this evening.
In this game, the team will continue to be without Rui Hachimura (fractured nasal bone), Gabe Vincent (left knee), and Jarred Vanderbilt (heel).
The Lakers, who defeated the Detroit Pistons 133-107 on Wednesday night, are playing the second night of a back-to-back on Thursday.
The Lakers (11-8) are only one game behind Oklahoma City (11-6) for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference at this point in the season.
Given that they were all on the field on Tuesday night, the team would really like to see as many of the players who are listed as questionable as possible in action.
James had one of his lightest workloads of the 2023–24 season in terms of minutes on Wednesday night. James has missed just one game for Los Angeles this season. James scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in just 28:42 of play in the victory over the Pistons.
The four-time champion has only played less than 30 minutes in a game six times this season.
The good news for the Lakers is that Davis, who was initially listed as probable, looks like he will play. In a huge game against Detroit on Wednesday, he scored 28 points and pulled down 16 rebounds.
The Lakers would really like to win this game, and it will be an excellent gauge of how they are doing so far this season against another elite team in the Western Conference.
The Lakers and Thunder will tip off in Oklahoma City on Thursday at 5 p.m. PST.
