NBA Playoffs: Lakers injury update - will LeBron and Davis play?

The Los Angeles Lakers will be attempting to get something from the Ball Arena this evening to level the series against the Nuggets. Darvin Ham’s team fell 114-103 in Sunday’s playoff opener and will be forced to shuffle the pack for Game 2 as he has three players ruled out.

Three Lakers players in the sickbay

Christian Wood, who missed the game after picking up a knee injury, will also sit out tonight’s matchup although he hopes to be back for Game 3 when the series moves to Los Angeles Thursday. Wood averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in the 50 games he played during the regular season.

Also ruled out is Cam Reddish, who is nursing an ankle injury which meant he missed the play-in tournament - and also Jarred Vanderbilt, whose ongoing foot issues limited him to just 29 appearances during the regular season. Vanderbilt was seen wearing a walking boot in practice last week - which Ham later explained was just a precautionary measure. The forward averaged 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists during the regular phase with 51.8% in shooting.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis both took knocks during Sunday’s opener but the forecast is favorable for both. LeBron has a minor issue with his ankle but is listed as probable; Anthony Davis, who ended with 32 points on Sunday, the best figures in his team, has the same status - he finished the game with a back issue but is expected to play.

Game 2 between the Lakers and Nuggets takes place on Monday the Ball Arena, in Denver Colorado, tipping off at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT with Game 3 set for Thursday 25 April, also at 10 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.