Lakers Injury Report: LA, Chicago Both Missing Starters For First Matchup Of Season
Your Los Angeles Lakers will host old pals Patrick Beverley, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball and their visiting Chicago Bulls during a marquee matinee matchup, the two team's first meeting this season.
Lonzo Ball, of course, will be wearing civilian clothes, as he's recovering from his third (and hopefully final?) surgery to address a knee injury that could see him miss up to two-and-a-half years of NBA action when all is said and done (he's been out since January 2022, and is expected to miss most or all of the 2023-24 season). Naturally, there's some question as to whether he'll ever be able to play again, a sad fate to befall a young talent who had become one of the most entertaining two-way point guards in the league. Caruso is questionable to play, too, as he deals with left midfoot soreness.
But hey, Patrick Beverley's ready to go! As are the three priciest Bulls, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic. Young Chicago forward Patrick Williams has been starting in the stead of AC recently, and that trend seems likely to continue whether or not the oft-injured guard suits up.
Two-way Bulls rookie signing Justin Lewis is out for the year with his own knee surgery recovery (a recurrent trend for Chicago), while the team's other two-way player, Terry Taylor, is getting in reps with the club's NBAGL affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. Standard 15-man roster signings Carlik Jones and Marko Simonovic are also with Windy City, as they are currently very much out of Bulls head coach Billy Donovan's rotation.
What of your Los Angeles Lakers? Will All-Star small forward LeBron James or starting point guard D'Angelo Russell be able to suit up and help the team extend its win streak to four straight games?
Per the league's latest injury report, James is merely "doubtful" to play today (an upgrade from "out") as he continues to work his way back from his right foot tendon injury. Russell's availability has been marked as a marginally more optimistic "questionable." D-Lo sat out Friday's 116-111 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder with right hip soreness. Mo Bamba (left high ankle sprain) remains absent, and is possibly done for the year.
Lakers two-way players Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider are with the team's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
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