Lakers Injury Report: LA Could Be Without 2 Starters Against Thunder Friday

It's a matchup of play-in hopefuls!

As has been the case more often than note, your 36-37 Los Angeles Lakers will be without All-Star small forward LeBron James (right foot tendon injury) tonight when they take on the 36-37 Oklahoma City Thunder, who have yet to submit their own injury report after losing in a Crypto.com blowout to the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night. 3-and-D backup center Mo Bamba (left high ankle sprain) also remains out for the Lakers with his own long-term ailment.

Yesterday, (unnecessary) controversy erupted when James refuted intel leaked by the Lakers to beat and national reports that he was targeting a return for his team's final 3-4 games. Chatter was also bubbling that he had perhaps traveled overseas for a platelet-rich plasma therapy treatment on the foot, an approach that is actually now permitted stateside, so yours truly is skeptical.

Per the NBA's latest injury report, Anthony Davis is not guaranteed to suit up tonight.

The Lakers' starting center, who has done his best to play through a right foot stress injury of late with James absent, is just "probable" to play tonight in a borderline must-win game for LA. Two-way rookies Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider are listed as unavailable for the club. 

Both players have appeared in just six contests with Los Angeles this season, and could handily play all nine of the Lakers' remaining games if LA so chose. Two-way players are permitted to appear in 50 games for their main teams before their contracts need to be converted to standard deals. They are also not allowed to appear in playoff games unless they are on the club's standard roster. One wonders if either player will be back in the purple and gold next year.

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