It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers have been banged up lately. It is a major reason they have lost five of their last eight games and slipped down to fourth place in the Western Conference after being in second place a handful of days ago.
LeBron James and Rui Hachimura have been out for several games with a groin strain and patellar tendinopathy, respectively. Additionally, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt have all missed at least one game each in recent days due to an assortment of ailments.
But there is a chance the Lakers will be very close to full strength on Saturday when they host the Chicago Bulls. Doncic, Reaves, Finney-Smith and Vanderbilt as listed as probable, while James, Hachimura and Vincent are questionable. Only Maxi Kleber, a big man the Lakers acquired in last month’s Doncic trade who suffered a foot injury prior to the trade, will definitely not play.
After hosting the Bulls on Saturday, the Lakers will start a four-game road trip on Monday when they visit the Orlando Magic. If James and Hachimura aren’t cleared to play on Saturday, perhaps one or both of them will return to game action on Monday.
