TL;DR
- Los Angeles Lakers aim for fifth straight win against Clippers.
- LeBron James is available, returning from sciatica after 14 games.
- De'Andre Ayton is the only Laker injured; Clippers miss Beal, Jones Jr., Miller.
- Lakers and Clippers both have perfect NBA Cup records in West Group B.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking for a fifth consecutive win when they take the floor against the Clippers on Tuesday night. The good news for the Lakers is that star forward LeBron James isn't listed on the official injury report, so he'll be available for the contest.
LeBron James is ready to play against the Clippers.
Last week, James rejoined the Lakers' games after being sidelined for the season's initial 14 contests because of sciatica. Having played his first two games of the season against the Utah Jazz, his upcoming match against the Clippers will mark his first encounter this season with a team other than Utah.
The Lakers appear to be in good health for their upcoming NBA matchup with their local rivals. The sole player on the team's injury list is center De'Andre Ayton, who will be sidelined for the game against the Clippers because of a contusion on his right knee. The Clippers, on the other hand, will be missing Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones Jr., and Jordan Miller.
The Lakers and Clippers will face off for the first time this season on Tuesday night, but the Lakers have already secured three consecutive victories against their Los Angeles rivals, a streak that began last season.
The Lakers and Clippers both hold perfect records in the NBA Cup this season, having secured victories in their initial two cup games. Consequently, the team that emerges victorious from Tuesday night's contest will gain a significant advantage in West Group B.
In 2023, the Lakers secured victory in the first-ever NBA Cup, and this season presents them with the chance to be the league's inaugural two-time champions of the tournament.