Game News

Report: Lakers give injury update ahead of Sunday matchup vs. Warriors

Published by
Peter Dewey

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without veterans LeBron James, Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook in their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.

The players were expected to rest in this game as the team prepares for its regular season opener.

While Beverley, James and Westbrook won’t play, forward Anthony Davis is expected to play for Los Angeles.

The Lakers are 0-3 so far this preseason, but the team has prioritized health for its players first, as Davis has already sat out with lower back tightness in the preseason. None of James, Westbrook, Beverley or Davis played in the team’s preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, Oct. 6.

James, who certainly doesn’t need a tune up in the preseason given his fantastic play last season, was great against the Phoenix Suns in the team’s second preseason game, scoring 23 points and adding three rebounds and four assists in limited action.

Westbrook and Beverley also played in that game, and Los Angeles was able to keep things close with Phoenix before eventually losing 119-115.

Right now, it appears the Lakers are focused on developing some of their younger players as they prepare for the start of the 2022-23 regular season. Los Angeles added a few players to the team this offseason including Lonnie Walker IV, Thomas Bryant, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Dennis Schroder and Damian Jones in free agency.

The Lakers are also finally going to have a healthy Kendrick Nunn, who scored 21 points in the team’s loss to Phoenix. Nunn missed the entire 2021-22 season with a knee injury.

While Lakers fans will miss seeing some of the team’s best players in Sunday’s contest, it will be a good chance to see where Davis’ game is at ahead of the regular season.

During the 2021-22 season, Davis averaged 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 18.6 percent from beyond the arc.

His shooting, specifically from beyond the arc, took a step back last season, and injuries held him to just 40 games. However, Los Angeles is relying on him to bounce back and be the perfect complement to James in the team’s lineup.

With several new faces and a new head coach in Darvin Ham, the Lakers still have a lot to work on in their final two preseason games. The Lakers and Warriors are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. PST on Sunday night.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Ex-teammate of Kobe and Shaq reacts to ‘BS’ narrative about Bryant being O’Neal’s sidekick

Gilbert Arenas is a self-described fan of Kobe Bryant, but he turned some heads when…

December 22, 2024

Jordan and Shaq’s ex-teammate discredits LeBron’s ‘bubble’ ring after he’s called Lakers legend

The Los Angeles Lakers have sky-high expectations compared to the lion's share of other NBA…

December 21, 2024

‘LeBron makes the trades’: Carmelo Anthony speaks out on chances of Lakers dealing LeBron James

Amid chatter about the future of 20-time All-Star LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers,…

December 20, 2024

DeMarcus Cousins says he and Anthony Davis would’ve helped Pelicans become contenders if not for ‘dumba-s’ Dell Demps

Former All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins called out former New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell…

December 19, 2024

Darvin Ham fires massive shot at Lakers: ‘Anywhere else I’m probably looking at an extension’

Darvin Ham has had more NBA Cup success than any coach in the league since…

December 18, 2024

Bobby Portis on the difference between the Bucks and the Lakers: ‘We’re not Hollywood’

The Milwaukee Bucks captured the 2024 NBA Cup title with a 97-81 victory over the…

December 18, 2024