This season, LeBron James suiting up in any given game for the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t a guarantee. At his advanced age, the Lakers want to keep him as fresh as possible for the long haul, which means that there will be some absences.
Plus, the wear and tear that James has accumulated over time also necessitates some additional rest. Out of L.A.’s 25 games this season, James has appeared in just nine. As a result, he’s on track to miss more games than he ever has in a season before.
LeBron James will play vs. Jazz on Thursday night
But, the good news for Lakers fans is that James will be playing in his 10th game of the season against the Jazz in Utah on Thursday night. James isn’t listed on the injury report for the contest, and thus will be good to go.
On the season, James is averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per performance.
While James will be available for the game, the Lakers will still be missing several contributors. Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent have all been ruled out of the game due to various ailments. Meanwhile, the Jazz will be without Walker Kessler and Georges Niang.
Heading into the game against Utah, the Lakers sit third in the Western Conference standings with a record of 18-7. Meanwhile, the Jazz are 10th in the West at 10-15, though they have won two consecutive games and will look to make it a third against L.A.
The matchup between L.A. And Utah will already be the third of the season between the two teams, as the Lakers bested the Jazz twice during a two-week period in November. The teams will also meet again in April.