The Los Angeles Lakers released an updated injury report for Sunday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz and LeBron James (left foot injury management) is available. Additionally, Jaxson Hayes remains out with a left foot injury as well. Both players were originally listed as questionable.
Los Angeles is coming off a mini two-game winning streak against the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns where James showed out as the No. 1 option. With the third seed still in play, it appears that L.A. wants to give themselves a shot at moving higher in the standings.
They can move up to third by beating the Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs beating the Denver Nuggets, who are resting a majority of their key players.
In the win over Suns, James put up an impressive 28 points, six rebounds and 12 assists on 10-for-16 shooting. Previously against Golden State, he had 26 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. So, he is clearly in a rhythm offensively, which bodes well for the playoffs in a week.
Against a rebuilding Jazz team, the hope would be that the 41-year-old star would not have to play heavy minutes to get the win.
Meanwhile, Hayes will miss his fourth straight game due to this foot issue. With a week off before the playoffs though, that should give him plenty of time to get healthy.
Hayes was in a nice groove before going down with the injury as in the 25-year-old’s last outing against the Dallas Mavericks, he put up an impressive 23 points and four rebounds.
But health is wealth at this point, so there is no need to be overexerting players given how shorthanded the Lakers are already with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out. While the third seed is enticing, getting out of Game 82 in one piece should be the main goal.
LeBron James bummed to not play against Stephen Curry for entire 2025-26 season
Injuries are a part of basketball and sometimes they rob fans of marquee matchups with the league’s top talent squaring off. One of those this year has been James and Stephen Curry, who have had numerous battles throughout their careers.
Unfortunately though, they didn’t get the chance to square off this season as one or the other was injured in all four matchups. After the Lakers beat the Warriors this past week, James expressed how bummed he was to not get to compete against his biggest rival for a whole year.
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