The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers will play each other for the first time this season today, and then again next week in Chicago.
Update Injury for Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers reached the .500 mark for the first time in 14 months by defeating Oklahoma City on Friday.
A victory Sunday against the visiting Chicago Bulls would strengthen their position in the Western Conference playoff race, while also tightening morale during a key stretch without injured star LeBron James.
Los Angeles (37-37) entered Saturday as the eighth seed in the West with eight games remaining in the regular season. Optimism around the team is growing.
Set for the finale of a five-game homestand, the Lakers have won three straight, with the past two coming against fellow Western Conference playoff contenders.
Two days after a victory over the Phoenix Suns, Anthony Davis keyed Friday’s victory over the Thunder with 37 points and 15 rebounds. Schroder scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Lonnie Walker IV had 20 points.
SBNation.com’s Harrison Faigen says that Anthony Davis’s status against the Bulls on Sunday is questionable due to a foot injury.
Davis is listed as probable by the Lakers all the time, so there is no cause for alarm.
In 35.4 minutes per game this month, he is averaging 27.2 points, 12.2 boards, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks.
A healthy scratch for three games before Friday, Walker embraced the chance to get accelerated minutes as the Lakers navigate injuries to James (foot) and D’Angelo Russell (hip). Los Angeles is 8-5 since James has been out.
James (foot) has been upgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against the Bulls, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Recent reports have indicated James will likely be back before the end of the regular season, and the team officially listing him as doubtful rather than out is a step in that direction.
Optimistically, he could be back as soon as Wednesday’s game against the Bulls, assuming he sits out the first of the two-game set. More information should emerge in the coming days.
While Chicago (35-38) hasn’t been above .500 since standing at 5-4 on Nov. 2, improved play of late has the Bulls in position to be part of the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
Chicago routed Portland 124-96 on Friday to open a three-game road trip while securing its sixth victory in eight games. The Bulls entered Saturday in possession of 10th place in the East, holding a 2 1/2-game lead for the final play-in spot.
Chicago was without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (strained right quadriceps), but the Bulls had plenty of answers against a Portland team.
DeRozan (quadriceps) told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, “everything’s a go” for Sunday’s game against the Lakers.
DeRozan sat out on Friday due to a strained right quad, but he’ll be ready to go for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles, the first of a back-to-back.
With his return, Alex Caruso will likely return to the second unit, and Javonte Green (knee) and Derrick Jones’ playing time will be reduced.
The Bulls and Lakers will complete their season series in a short span, meeting again Wednesday in Chicago. The Bulls won both meetings last season, snapping the Lakers’ three-game winning streak in the series.
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Injury report Bulls
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Alex Caruso | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| Javonte Green | Knee |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 27
|
| Lonzo Ball | Knee |
Out for the season
|
| Justin Lewis | Knee |
Out for the season
|
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Injury report Lakers
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| LeBron James | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| D’Angelo Russell | Hip |
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
|
