The Lakers have no consecutive days off between the All-Star break and March 28-29, so full health will be critical.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers expect to be fully healthy for the first time in recent memory when they return from the All-Star break.
NBA scoring leader Luka Dončić said Thursday that he will “probably” return to the court after missing the Lakers’ final four games before the break with a mild hamstring strain.
Austin Reaves also will no longer be on his minutes restriction stemming from a five-week absence with a calf injury, coach JJ Redick said after practice at the Lakers’ training complex.
LeBron James, who went into the break by becoming the oldest play to record a triple-double, is also expected to be uniform when the Lakers host the Clippers (10 ET on ESPN).
That means the Lakers’ three best players should all suit up together for only the 11th time in 55 games this season.
“It’s funny, we were talking before the season about building continuity with those three guys, and we’ve had them available together for 10 games,” Redick said. “It’s just the situation we’re in. We’re not the only team that has had a bunch of health issues throughout the season and had to manage that, but my message to the players this morning was that this is going to be a sprint for these last 28 games.”
The Lakers have no consecutive days off between the All-Star break and March 28-29, so Redick hopes his team will seize on the opportunity presented by full health out of the break to stack some wins in the competitive Western Conference.
Los Angeles (33-21) entered the break in fifth place in the West despite the lengthy absences of Reaves and James, who has missed 18 games this season.
Starting center Deandre Ayton also is expected to be back for the Lakers after a sore right knee kept him out before the break
