LeBron James and Rui Hachimura's statuses are upgraded ahead of the Lakers' crucial matchup with the Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers return home to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, and they're dealing with a handful of injury concerns that could impact their lineup.
After dropping a tough 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, the Lakers (23-12) will look to bounce back against a Bucks team that sits at 16-21 and is fighting to climb back into playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James Listed as Questionable
The biggest question mark for Friday's game centers around LeBron James, who has been upgraded to questionable after sitting out Wednesday's game against the Spurs.
James is dealing with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica, chronic issues that the Lakers have been carefully managing throughout the season, and his status likely won't be confirmed until closer to tipoff.
The 41-year-old superstar has been dealing with these ailments for much of the year, and the Lakers chose to rest him on the second night of a back-to-back set after he dropped 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in Tuesday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Through 18 games this season, James is averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting an impressive 51.2 percent from the field.
Hachimura's Potential Return
In a welcome development, Rui Hachimura has also been upgraded to questionable for Friday's contest, marking significant progress in his recovery from a right calf strain.
The forward has been sidelined for the past five games and didn't travel with the team on their recent road trip, instead staying back in Los Angeles to continue his rehabilitation.
Hachimura has been working his way back through South Bay, the Lakers' G-League affiliate, where he participated in practice on Wednesday as part of his ramp-up process.
The 27-year-old has been one of the Lakers' most consistent offensive players this season, averaging 12.7 points per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field, and his return would be a huge boost for a Lakers team that has been operating shorthanded in recent games.
Reaves Still Sidelined
The Lakers will continue to be without Austin Reaves for Friday's game.
Reaves has been out since suffering a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain on Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets, and he was originally given a timeline of four weeks before being re-evaluated.
The 27-year-old guard has been a major loss for Los Angeles, as he was having a career year, averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game before going down with the injury.
What's Changed Since Last Game
The most significant change from Wednesday's loss to the Spurs is the upgrade of both James and Hachimura from out to questionable.
Against San Antonio, the Lakers were without all three of James, Reaves, and Hachimura, leaving them dangerously thin at the wing positions.
The potential return of James and Hachimura would drastically alter the team's outlook for Friday's contest and give them a fighting chance against Milwaukee's star-studded lineup.
The Lakers enter Friday's game sitting at 23-12, good for fourth place in the Western Conference standings, and they'll be looking to avoid back-to-back losses.
Despite their strong record, Los Angeles has struggled defensively at times, ranking 16th in the league by allowing 116.6 points per game, though they boast the second-best field goal percentage in the league at 49.8 percent.
Tipoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.