The Thunder vs Lakers matchup kicked off Monday night with Los Angeles facing a big challenge against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, even with LeBron James available to play.
The Lakers confirm that Luka Dončić has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. It marks his second straight absence as the team continues to manage the injury and hopes it does not lead to a lengthy layoff.
However, LeBron James is good to go. The veteran forward is not listed on the official injury report, indicating he is available to play his 35th game of the season for Los Angeles.
James has been a regular presence this year, averaging 21.8 points, 6.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game through 34 appearances.
With Dončić sidelined, the Lakers will rely heavily on James to generate offense and keep the team stable against one of the top contenders in the league.
Los Angeles enters the night with a 32-19 record and sits fifth in the Western Conference standings. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, leads the conference 40-13.
