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Lakers Injury Report: Status For LeBron James Revealed For Showdown With T-Wolves

The Lakers may be short-handed in this must-win game.

Martand Bhagavatula

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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As we've truly reached the home stretch of the season, every game is a must-win for the Lakers.

That especially applies to tonight's game against a potential playoff opponent in the 53-24 Minnesota Timberwolves, who are vying for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Coming off of a stinker against the Suns where they put up just 87 points, Minnesota will be looking to bounce back. Unfortunately for the surging Lakers, LeBron James (flu-like symptoms) has been ruled out, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

This is a big loss for LA for obvious reasons, but Minnesota isn't healthy either. All-NBA forward Karl-Anthony Towns remains out with a long-term knee injury, leaving both teams without a centerpiece.

In terms of seeding, a Lakers win tonight makes it so they keep control of their own destiny in getting the 7th/8th seed. If they lose, they could potentially fall below the 8th seed, having to play in two single-elimination play-in games to even be the 8th seed.

Expect a sense of urgency from the Lakers, but coming away with a win sans LeBron is bound to be difficult.

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Martand Bhagavatula

MARTAND BHAGAVATULA

Martand is currently a student at the University of Southern California, and has prior experience in the NIL space, sports financial advisory, and publishing in sports analytics. As a Lakers, Chargers, and Angels fan, he often finds himself disappointed.