The Los Angeles Lakers are currently on a losing streak after they managed to win eight straight following the trade for Luka Dončić. Their misfortunes came right as their momentum was picking up after LeBron James left the game in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics.
The duo of Dončić and James were starting to gel together pretty well before James left with a groin injury. James is expected to be out with the injury for one to two weeks, but groin injuries can be tricky.
After the Lakers almost shocked the world with a short-handed victory on the road against the Denver Nuggets, they prepared for another tough back-to-back, starting with the Phoenix Suns at home.
Will Luka Dončić Play Against the Phoenix Suns?
The Suns are trying to move up to a play-in spot as they sit in the 11th seed of the Western Conference. Kevin Durant’s name has been mentioned for a potential trade in the offseason, but the Suns still have to compete with the remaining time left in the season.
The full injury report for the Lakers and Suns game is out, and it is good news to an extent for both teams. For the Suns, the only player officially listed as out is Grayson Allen. For the Lakers, Donĉic is listed as probable, which indicates he could be able to play.
Suns at Lakers injury report:
Suns: Grayson Allen (left foot strain) OUT.
Nick Richards (right ankle sprain) PROBABLE.
Monte Morris (low back injury management) QUESTIONABLE.
Lakers: LeBron James (left groin strain), Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) and Maxi Kleber… pic.twitter.com/TgnKydzMfm
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 16, 2025
James is still listed as being out, along with Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber, but Jaxson Hayes and Dalton Knecht are both listed as probable. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent are listed as questionable.
The Lakers dropped to the fifth seed during their losing streak, and they could use a big win to regain some of that momentum. The big question is when will James return?
Is James’ Injury Something To Monitor Going Forward?
While the Lakers are certainly ready to get their superstar back healthy, they might need to monitor his minutes and workload once he’s back on the court. James has had groin injuries before, one of which kept him out for an extended period of time.
While this injury is not believed to be serious, there’s always the chance that it could progress into a lingering issue. James is in his 22nd year in the NBA and turns 41 in December. While Father Time hasn’t completely slowed James down, he’s seen a fair share of injuries during his Lakers tenure.
Will the Lakers play it safe with James and prioritize him being fully healthy while jockeying for a solidified playoff spot? Will they keep a close eye on his injury to ensure this doesn’t arise later on down the line? Time will tell.