Injury

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EL SEGUNDO – An MRI last night revealed a hairline fracture in a non-weight bearing bone of Avery Bradley’s right leg (on the fibular head). Bradley will be re-evaluated in 1 to 2 weeks, and further medical updates will be provided at that time.

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Avery Bradley Medical Update

Mike Trudell

A day after the MRI on Anthony Davis’ thumb came back showing nothing further than the original diagnosis of a sprain, the All-Star practiced in full on Tuesday and said he hopes to make his Staples Center debut on Wednesday evening.

“I kinda knew (it wasn’t serious),” said Davis. “I knew it was just a jam … it felt fine at practice today.”

Davis said the thumb got hit a few times at practice today, but that’s what he wanted, in order to tough it out. The plan is to see how he feels tomorrow prior to the game, and if it continues to feel good, he’ll play.

Head coach Frank Vogel said he didn’t see any limitations for Davis in practice, but will wait until Wednesday afternoon to determine if he’ll play against the Warriors.

“We’re going to be safe and see how he feels tomorrow,” said Vogel.

I asked Davis what he’s learned from the various line ups that have been employed across four preseason games thus far, and how he feels with two remaining.

“We’re trying to run different line ups, but we’re figuring it out,” he said. “Obviously we have a long way to go, but we have guys who (know) the game of basketball and are figuring things out.”

Before practice, Vogel had the Lakers head outside to the turf field across the street from the UCLA Health Training Center. AD, content to stretch, left it to LeBron and Rajon Rondo to throw bombs across the field.

KUZMA WILL “TAKE SOME TIME” TO RETURN
Like Davis, Kyle Kuzma went through some tests when the team returned to China, and after a scan of his ankle area (stress reaction), it was determined that he could do non-contact activity on the court.

“There’s still progression to be had,” said Vogel. “He was very limited with what he did today, and it was all non-contact in limited duration. It’s going to take some time for him to get his legs under him and build up to the point where he’s playing live with contact, and then some time where we want to see him perform in that and respond well to that before we clear him to play.”

Up next: continued shooting, some Alter-G (anti-gravity treadmill) work, scripted offense with a coach, 1-on-1 with a coach, then eventually full speed, all with no contact.

Obviously, Kuzma won’t be playing in the preseason games this week as he continues to progress.

COOK TO DEBUT?
Quinn Cook practiced in full on Tuesday, which will give him a chance to make his preseason debut after a sore calf has kept him out to this point. Vogel said they’ll see how Cook responds to practice before making a determination.

Meanwhile, Troy Daniels (knee) did not practice and will not play on Wednesday.

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Injury Update: Davis, Kuzma and Cook

EL SEGUNDO — Kyle Kuzma is progressing with his rehabilitation from an injury (stress reaction, left foot) that occurred while he was with USA Basketball. He has not been cleared for full practice or game participation. He is scheduled for an MRI when the team returns from China, and a status update will be given at that time.

Talen Horton-Tucker continues to receive treatment for a stress reaction in his right foot and will have limited participation in training camp. A status update will be given upon the team’s return from China.

Jordan Caroline underwent successful surgery on his L. 5th metatarsal on Sept. 6, 2019. He is expected to miss 10-12 weeks.

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Lakers Medical Updates on Kyle Kuzma, Talen Horton-Tucker and Jordan Caroline

Joey Ramirez

As the Lakers head into the final 17 games of the season, coach Luke Walton said he will “keep a closer eye” on LeBron James’ workload.

While the head coach will not put a maximum number on his star’s minutes, he did say that it will be an additional focus to “make sure we keep him healthy to finish the season.”

Walton said that James is on board with the plan, having already discussed it with the team’s trainers.

LeBron has averaged a career-low-tying 35.6 minutes per game this season, but that is still seventh-most in the league nonetheless.

James — who also ranks sixth in scoring (27.1) and third in assists (8.0) — additionally missed five weeks due to a groin strain, marking the longest injury absence of his career.

The 16-year veteran has played 1,190 career regular-season games, 44th in NBA history. He has also appeared in the fourth-most postseason contests (239).

“With the amount of miles he’s put on those tires, anything we can do to keep him as fresh as possible we’re going to try to do,” Walton said.

Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball’s availability is in question for the rest of the season, as he continues his recovery from a left ankle sprain.

Ball has been out since mid-January and will have his status officially updated on Saturday. But Walton said he would need at least a week of practice before returning to games, adding that “he’s not close to that.”

With such little time left, Walton said it could end up being best to have him sit the remainder of the schedule, allowing him to put in additional work in the offseason — which he wasn’t able to do last year due to injury.

“Lonzo hasn’t had himself an offseason yet as far as development,” Walton said, “which is a huge part  of when you get better at this level.

“With where we’re at now and not looking like he’s close to being able to play yet, it’s almost getting to the point where the true value comes from [getting] him as healthy as possible, so he has however many months this summer to really expand and keep working on his game.”

While Ball and Tyson Chandler (neck stiffness) will miss Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics, the Lakers do hope to have some reinforcements against their rivals.

Brandon Ingram (shoulder soreness) and Kyle Kuzma (ankle sprain) are listed as questionable to return, as is Lance Stephenson (toe sprain).

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Walton Updates Players' Statuses Before Final 17 Games

After a strained left groin caused him to miss the last five weeks of action, LeBron James will return for Thursday’s game against the LA Clippers.

LeBron will not have a minutes restriction, per coach Luke Walton, who added that the Lakers will keep a “close eye” on their superstar’s conditioning considering he has been out for the last 17 games.

James was considered “doubtful” to play against the Clippers Thursday morning, but had ramped up his return over the Lakers’ last two practices. He was a full participant in both, including for contact drills and scrimmages.

Thursday will mark the end of the longest absence of his 16-year career.

“What I know of him, he’s probably pretty locked in right now, ready to compete,” Walton said before Thursday’s game. “This is the longest he’s been without being able to help his team. I know it’s been very frustrating for him, the competitor that he is.”

LeBron — who is averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists — had been playing some of his best basketball prior to his injury.

He had recorded four straight double-doubles, including one against Golden State on Christmas Day before leaving that game with the strained groin.

The Lakers were rolling with James, amassing a 20-14 record to start the season. While their defense has kept them competitive in his absence, their offensive decline contributed to a 6-11 mark without him.

“We would’ve liked to have won some more of those games, but I thought our guys really competed and different guys did step up for us,” Walton said. “If we can get through this stretch and slowly start to get healthy again and start to put some stuff together, I think this adversity will make us stronger by the end of the season.”

LeBron’s return could be at a pivotal point in the Western Conference playoff race. Thursday’s opponent, the Clippers, currently sit two games ahead of the Lakers (26-25) for eighth place.

James will be joined in the starting lineup by Kyle Kuzma — who sat the last two games with a left hip strain — as well as Rajon Rondo, Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac.

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LeBron James to Make Return Against Clippers

EL SEGUNDO — LeBron James, who has been out since suffering a strained left groin on December 25 vs. Golden State, is receiving daily treatment by the team’s training and medical staff and continues to progress with his recovery.

He will not travel on the team’s upcoming two-game road trip and will be re-evaluated in one week.

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LeBron James Medical Update

The Lakers will be without the services of Rajon Rondo for at least “a couple of weeks,” according to coach Luke Walton, who revealed that the point guard broke his hand in Wednesday’s win over Portland.

Rondo apparently fractured the third metacarpal on his right hand while making a steal in the fourth quarter, according to Walton.

“He’s a true leader,” Lonzo Ball said. “He’s a coach on the floor, knows all the plays and knows where everybody is supposed to be. So it’s going to be tough having him out.”

Rondo averaged 8.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field in 11 games, primarily serving as the Lakers’ second-unit point guard.

While the Lakers do not have another player on the roster as experienced at controlling an NBA offense as the 13-year veteran, they do have several options to replace him in his stead.

Ball will continue to start at point guard, while LeBron James — who ranks 10th in the league in assists (7.2) — has already run point for large swaths of the season.

Meanwhile, Lance Stephenson played point off the bench while Rondo was suspended for three games this season, and Brandon Ingram thrived in a multi-game stretch as the starting point guard (in place of an injured Ball) last year.

Plus, two-way player Alex Caruso and rookie Svi Mykhailiuk (who ran point for the Ukrainian national team) can also be summoned from the G League.

“It’s tough,” James said. “[Rondo] is one of our captains, one of our leaders. I heard we have great surgeons here in L.A., so he’ll get right to it, start his rehab as fast as possible, get him back. It’s next man up.”

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Rondo Sidelined by Broken Hand

After a fractured left hand cost him the past 14 games, Josh Hart is looking to return to the court for the final two weeks of the season.

Hart — who has missed every game in March thus far — is considered questionable to play in Friday’s contest against Milwaukee.

The rookie hopes to get back on the floor without a minutes restriction.

“It’s not like it’s a ligament or tendon or something like that where they have to be very cautious with it,” Hart said after Thursday’s practice. “I had the surgery. I think the bone’s healed. I got hardware in there, so it’s not like it’s gonna break again.

“I think it’s all how much I can tolerate the pain. I just won’t tell them how much it hurts if it does,” Hart added, laughing.

The 30th pick in this year’s draft, Hart has exceeded most expectations, particularly when it comes to filling his role as a 3 and D wing.

His 39.7 3-point percentage ranks third among rookies, and his stout defense has been at the top of his class.

“We’re excited for Josh,” coach Luke Walton said. “He looked good. He played three-on-three Tuesday and played two-on-two today. He looked really good. I told him he looks skinny right now, so hopefully he can still play some defense. He says he can, we’ll find out tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball is also considered questionable after an MRI confirmed that he has a left knee contusion.

Ball left Wednesday’s game early after bumping knees with Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki. He did not practice on Thursday, instead receiving treatment at the UCLA Health Training Center.

The rookie ranks eighth in the NBA in assists (7.2) and 11th in steals (1.69).