The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a tough challenge heading into Friday night's matchup against the Denver Nuggets, having lost three games in a row and dealing with a rash of injuries on a back-to-back.
The Lakers have been without LeBron James since he suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and now they'll also be without Luka Doncic for the game against Denver. Doncic, who logged 35 minutes and scored 45 points in a loss to the Bucks on Thursday, will not suit up due to the quick turnaround.
In addition to James and Doncic, the Lakers will be without Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber. Despite this, the team is expected to have ten players available, and ahead of the game, head coach JJ Redick shared some notable news.
He confirmed that everyone active will get a chance to play, including Bronny James, who is returning to the main roster after a stint with the South Bay Lakers in the G League.
JJ Redick says he will play every Laker in uniform tonight. Bronny James is back with the team after a G League stint and that also means Cam Reddish will be in line for minutes for the first time since late January.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 15, 2025
James hasn't had much success or time at the pro level this season, but he's remained one of the standout players for the Lakers' G League team, averaging an impressive 20.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds.
Currently, the Lakers are in the midst of a crucial playoff push. After climbing to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, they have now dropped to No. 4 with a 40-24 record. While a victory against the Nuggets seems like a long shot given their current state, every game is critical as the Lakers fight to solidify their playoff positioning, with just 18 games remaining.
Related: Luka Doncic Joins LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in Exclusive Lakers History
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This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM.