Lakers Injury Report: LeBron James, Anthony Davis Status Revealed Against Nets
Following a physically and emotionally exhausting 125-121 overtime road loss against the Boston Celtics, your Los Angeles Lakers' two All-Stars, power forward LeBron James and center Anthony Davis, are set to take a bit of a breather.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that both players are set to sit out on Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets. That bout will mark the second contest in LA's current five-game road trip, which sees them facing off against four Eastern Conference foes before wrapping things up against the New Orleans Pelicans next Saturday.
Brooklyn will itself be missing its best All-Star, power forward Kevin Durant, who has been out since January 8th with a right MCL sprain, and could be out through the All-Star break. Given that the Nets will still have one healthy All-Star, controversial point guard Kyrie Irving, to the Lakers' zero healthy All-Stars, they're probably still the favorites to win at home against LA, despite the absence of KD.
At 23-27, the Lakers could use all the wins they can get. Even at full strength, they would have found the 30-19 Nets to be stiff competition at home. Brooklyn has gone 28-14 since new head coach Jacque Vaughn stepped in for ex-Laker Steve Nash, who was canned earlier this season.
Brian Lewis of The New York Post reports that small forward Kessler Edwards, as well as two-way guards David Duke Jr. and Dru Smith, are all going to join Durant on the sidelines for Brooklyn.
Lewis adds that Nets point forward Ben Simmons is questionable to play with a sore left knee. Reserve small forward T.J. Warren is considered doubtful with a left knee contusion.
There could be a method to LA's thinking here, as this will be the first game of a back-to-back set in New York.
