LeBron James injury update Lakers vs Heat game
Getty
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a basket against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that LeBron James is available to play in their Thursday night game against the Miami Heat.
James was originally listed as questionable due to an elbow injury he suffered in the Lakers’ game on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, but he’s since been cleared to play.
James is coming off a 30-point game against Houston, a contest in which he tied a career-high by shooting 13/14 from the field.
Lakers Announce LeBron James Injury Update
There were initial concerns that James would sit against Miami as it was the second night of a back-to-back, and he had suffered an elbow injury the night before.
After the second win in a row over the Rockets, James told Lisa Salters of ESPN that he originally wasn’t sure about his status for the upcoming game.
ESPN
“I love you, you’re awesome, so I had to come back and do this interview for you.” @KingJames came back for the interview with @saltersl even though he needs to ice his elbow 😂👑
“Imma throw some ice on it as soon as I get back to the locker room,” James said. “We got a back-to-back, I’m 41. I need to prepare but I’ll take care of myself and hopefully be ready tomorrow night.”
James went down in the fourth quarter after a fall on a layup attempt. It was the same elbow he injured earlier in the month.
However, despite the report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, claiming that James would sit out, he’s been upgraded to available against the Heat.
Will Manso
There’s question if LeBron James will play tonight vs the Heat, but he was the first person off the first bus to arrive.
“There’s question if LeBron James will play tonight vs the Heat, but he was the first person off the first bus to arrive,” Will Manso wrote in a post on X before James’ final injury status was revealed.
James is averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 51.4% shooting in 48 games for the Lakers this season.
Lakers Injury Report vs Heat
Luka Doncic MVP odds Cade Cunningham injury update
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Along with upgrading James, the Lakers revealed that Luka Doncic is also available to play. Like both James and Austin Reaves, Doncic was listed as questionable for the game against Miami with right hip soreness.
He is coming off a 40-point, nine-rebound, and ten-assist game against the Rockets. Doncic has also been playing some of the best basketball of his career, quicking rising his NBA MVP award odds over the past two weeks.
While James and Doncic were both upgraded, Reaves remains a game-time decision for the contest, as he deals with a right forearm contusion.
Dave McMenamin
JJ Redick says LeBron James and Luka Doncic will play tonight in Miami. Austin Reaves remains a gametime decision.
Like his two star teammates, the initial expectation was that the Lakers would sit the trio after two tough games against the Rockets, but it feels now that Reaves might be dealing with an injury that the team doesn’t want to risk getting worse.
Reaves put in two subpar performances against Houston, but is still having the best season of his career. He is in line to earn a five-year, $241 million contract extension from the Lakers in free agency this summer.
Los Angeles also has Maxi Kleber listed on the injury report as out, as the center deals with a back injury and is expected to miss more time.
As for the Heat, they have Jamie Jaquez and Andrew Wiggins listed as out on their injury report for the game against the Lakers