The Los Angeles Lakers are in dire need of wins as their opportunity to get into the Western Conference playoff picture is slipping away.
They are 26-32 and 13th in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is 2.5 games behind the Utah Jazz, who are in 10th place, and 4.5 games behind the sixth-place Dallas Mavericks.
Several close losses in the last month and a half have seriously hurt the Lakers’ chances of making the playoffs, but they’re still in the hunt.
Another thing that has hurt them is injuries. LeBron James has missed the last three games with a left foot ailment that is reportedly causing him unbearable pain at times.
The good news is he will return to the lineup tonight when his team hosts the New Orleans Pelicans.
Lakers starters: Russell, Beasley, LeBron, Vanderbilt and Davis
That’s the three former Wolves, who know to play with one another, plus LeBron and AD.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 16, 2023
In addition, newcomers D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley will start in the backcourt, a move that plenty of Lakers fans have been calling for. Dennis Schroder had been the other starter alongside Russell in L.A.’s last two games.
Another newcomer, center Mo Bamba, is expected to make his Lakers debut Wednesday night.
