The Houston Rockets is playing against Los Angeles Lakers on Apr 2, 2023 at 11:00:00 PM UTC. The game is played at Toyota Center.
Update Injury for Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers’ major purpose in making trades before the deadline was to build a rotation that would reduce LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ playing time.
The Lakers’ success, though, depends on Davis’s availability and supremacy, regardless of the Lakers’ roster depth or James’ transcendence. When he is both, as he was in Friday’s 123-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers can do anything.
Davis powered through an ankle ailment to score 38 points, grab 17 rebounds, and block two shots, helping the Lakers (39-38) win their fifth straight game and move up to seventh place in the Western Conference.
The Lakers, who will play the Houston Rockets on Sunday in the second of a four-game road trip are at their best.
“In order for us to be at the highest level and playing at the highest level it all starts with A.D.,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham.
“We have a team that can make some things happen but you’ve got to have that one pivotal force that’s leading the charge, in our case with this particular team here in the moment, it’s A.D.”
According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Davis (foot) is expected to play on Sunday against the Rockets.
Davis has now appeared in seven consecutive games while being labeled as probable.
Over this time period, he has put up 28.0 points, 11.6 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals a game while playing 36.7 minutes per contest on average.
Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times notes that LeBron James’ (foot) status for Sunday’s game versus the Rockets is in question.
James is expected to be listed as questionable for the rest of the season. On Sunday, he’d play for the fourth time in less than a month after returning from a month-long hiatus, but with easy matchups against Houston and Utah, he may get a day off.
The Lakers have struggled to establish lasting momentum after acquiring Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarrett Vanderbilt, despite their current winning streak. Their growth has been slowed by injuries, but with everyone contributing on Friday, it was Davis who propelled them.
By beating the Timberwolves, the Lakers improved their chances of qualifying for the play-in tournament, while there is still a remote possibility that they may finish higher in the Western Conference and therefore avoid the play-in.
The first order of business is to avenge the Lakers’ 114-110 setback in Houston on March 15, when both Davis and James were sidelined due to injuries.
-
Injury Report Lakers
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| LeBron James | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| Scotty Pippen Jr. | Ankle |
Game Time Decision
|
| Anthony Davis | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| Mo Bamba | Ankle |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 11
|
-
Injury Report Rockets
| PLAYER | INJURY | STATUS |
| Jae’Sean Tate | Knee | Expected to be out until at least Apr 4 |
