There is mixed news for the Los Angeles Lakers as they look ahead to their match-up with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The patched-up LA Lakers fell to a loss at the Brooklyn Nets at the start of the week, after producing a flat, disorganized performance.
The Lakers were without LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes and Dorian Finney-Smith, who all missed the game with an injury.
Now as they head into the first of two more road games, the Lakers have issued their injury report as they prepare to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Lakers have cleared Dorian Finney-Smith to return, after he missed the match-up against his former team the Nets.
The bad news is LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes have all been ruled out of the game.
Hayes was questionable for the Knicks game, also having missed the Celtics game, and he has been confirmed as unavailable for the Bucks, dealing with a knee injury.
Shams Charania reports LeBron James has returned to LA for treatment on his groin injury, confirming that he will also miss the road game against the Nuggets, the second night of a back to back.
The Lakers have another back to back scheduled for later in the week, with a rescheduled game after the LA fires adding to a packed schedule.
This presents the Lakers with decisions to make ahead of the Bucks and Nuggets game.
Luka Doncic is listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report with ‘right ankle soreness’, and JJ Redick has already been advised not to risk him.
NBA legend Paul Pierce believes Doncic should be rested, to get fully healthy, with the Lakers missing so many other stars.
They face a tall order going into Milwaukee, lacking size to defend against Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks are reeling from three successive defeats, including a heartbreaking loss to a Tyrese Haliburton game-winner against the Pacers on March 11.
