Anthony Davis could give the Lakers a big boost as they hunt down a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the thick of the chase for the Play-In Tournament and are reportedly about to get stronger with the return of Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Davis plans to make his return from a right mid-foot sprain Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Lakers star Anthony Davis plans to return Friday vs. the Pelicans, barring setback, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Davis has been sidelined since Feb. 14 due to mid-foot sprain. Big Lakers-Pelicans game with Play-In ramifications.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2022
Davis returns after being out since Feb. 14 with a right foot injury. He also missed a month with a knee injury, limiting his time on the floor with LeBron James to 21 games together this season.
Meanwhile, Chris Haynes reported during TNT’s Thursday Lakers-Jazz broadcast that LeBron James would “attempt to give it a go” on Friday as well after missing the two games with a sprained left ankle. Haynes added the dual return of the Lakers’ superstars represented the franchise’s “last hope” of establishing momentum while attempting to secure a Play-In Tournament berth.
The Lakers will need that push after losing to Utah 122-109 on Thursday. The defeat dropped Los Angeles (31-45) to 11th place, with San Antonio (31-45) holding the tiebreaker. The Lakers, who have now lost four consecutive games and eight of their last 10, will look to James and Davis to overtake the Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans over their final six games of the regular season.