(Los Angeles Lakers) Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Akshita Patel

NBA

LeBron James Not Playing Crucial Play-Ins Game Against Timberwolves? Bringing In Dennis Schroder To Fill The Gap?

The Lakers, led by veteran LeBron James will lock horns with Minnesota Timberwolves to secure a place in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers missed the playoff spot by a whisker after losing a crucial matchup against the city rivals, LA Clippers. They had to settle as the 7th-seeded team in the Western Conference table and earned a shot at playoff qualifications. For what it’s worth, securing a play-in spot is in itself a miracle for the team who once ranked 13th on the table.

   

The new-look roster after the trade deadline turned things around for good for Hollywood. Regardless, the job is still half done, as the team will have to edge past Timberwolves in the play-ins to secure the seventh-seed position. Meanwhile, the injury report released ahead of the game has some surprising names which have left the fans guessing.

LeBron James Added To Injury List For The Play-In Game Against Timberwolves

LeBron James
eBron James Sent Out A Tweet After The Lakers Beat The Thunder © Provided by FastBreak on FanNation

LA Lakers superstar striker, LeBron James, made a heroic comeback for the last few games of the regular season after suffering from a season-ending foot tendon injury. The injury he sustained against the Mavericks kept him out for three long weeks. While the doctors advised surgery, James, who is in the last stretch of this glorious career, chose otherwise. He chose the Lakers over his health and returned with half fitness. Despite all odds, King James stepped up for the team and helped in securing the play-in spot.

However, ahead of the big game, the Lakers have added LeBron James to the injury list. While he is listed as probable, the fans fear that the foot injury has flared up again. It’s worth noting that multiple times during the season, James appeared on the injury list as probable and ended up playing the full game. Hence, it might not be anything different this time around as well. The Lakers can surely not afford to bench LeBron in the most important game of the season. Not only that, the veteran, on his part, would not miss even a single minute of the game as his determination and commitment to the team, at the age of 38, is immeasurable.

Dennis Schroder Fit To Play Against Timberwolves

Dennis Schroder
Rick Bowmer – staff, AP

While Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell extended the injury list, Dennis Schorder finally escaped it. Schroder, a reserve guard, rose to fame this season with the new-look roster. He made multiple starts and scored crucial points during the absence of the main stars. However, the guard missed out last two games due to neck and Achilles soreness.

Seems like the soreness was nothing major and had subsided as Dennis Schroder ditched the injury list for the first time in two weeks. He is likely to make an appearance in the play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dennis is a key part of the lineup, as his defense has been top-notch. He is the perfect second fiddle to the likes of Anthony Davis and even LeBron James, for that matter, as he has a good command over the ball possession.