Lakers’ LeBron James To Play vs. Grizzlies After Missing Bucks Game

According to NBA reporter Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will play against the Memphis Grizzlies tonight (3/27). 

LeBron, 39, didn’t play versus the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday (3/26). 

LeBron James is expected to be available tonight in Memphis after missing the Lakers game yesterday because of left ankle soreness, sources told ESPN.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 27, 2024

The Lakers beat the Bucks without LeBron in double overtime to improve to 40-32 on the season. 

LeBron is averaging 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists this season while shooting 53.0% from the field, 40.6% from beyond the arc and 75.1% from the free-throw line. The NBA legend continues to defy Father Time. 

The Lakers are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. They are only 2.0 games back of the Phoenix Suns for the eighth seed. 

Seeds 1-6 automatically qualify for the 2024 postseason, while seeds 7-10 compete in the play-in tournament. 

“It’s been flip-flopping so much over the last few weeks, I kind of stopped looking at it,” LeBron said of the West standings, via The Athletic. “Just kind of just like focusing on each game at a time. So, obviously, we know where we are right now. Just continue trying to play some good basketball. That’s a very testy road trip for us. … But we’re looking forward to it.”

The Lakers beat the Bucks despite being down by 19 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis put up 34 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks, D’Angelo Russell finished with 29 points and 12 assists and Austin Reaves recorded a triple-double (29 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists). 

“I just think we’re an unpredictable team,” Russell said, via ESPN. “So depends on which team you get, depends on which team we are defensively, offensively as a unit. Some guys are better than others [some nights]. Some guys have bad nights. It just depends on what team we’re going to be. When we’re in full effect like tonight — obviously, no Bron — but, I think we’ll be hard to beat.”