The Los Angeles Lakers will be without LeBron James and Anthony Davis for their crucial road test against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel shared the news in his pregame press conference.
Neither decision comes as a surprise, as both stars were listed as “doubtful.”
LeBron is nursing the sprained left ankle he suffered during the second quarter of the Lakers' disastrous loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. LeBron was noticeably slowed in the second half and admitted his ankle felt “horrible” after the game. He said the fact that he had to immediately jump on a plane to Texas would likely only make the swelling worse.
Tuesday will mark the 20th game LeBron has missed in 2021-22, due to a variety of reasons. The Lakers are 6-13 without their best player this season. He continues to play through a sore left knee.
Frank Vogel said he believes the Lakers are still playing with a high "care-factor", but LeBron's sprained ankle presents "the latest and maybe biggest blow to our psyche."
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) March 29, 2022
Anthony Davis, meanwhile, continues to work his way back from the mid-foot sprain he suffered on Feb. 16. On a positive note, the All-Star center was a full participant in practice on Monday for the first time since his latest injury, including full-contact scrimmaging and drill work. Vogel said the team will be extra-cautious with Davis' re-integration to prevent re-injury, though the Lakers need wins, yesterday.
After the Dallas visit, the Lakers have a back-to-back at the Utah Jazz then home for the Pelicans on Thursday and Friday. Vogel said LeBron and AD's availability for those games will be determined on Thursday.
The Lakers opened Tuesday 0.5 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the final Play-In spot.
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