Lakers injury updates on LeBron James and Rui Hachimura

After losing four straight games during which they were short-handed, the Los Angeles Lakers may be starting to get healthier. Luka Dončić, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent returned to action on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns after missing Friday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, and center Jaxson Hayes also returned on Sunday after missing four games in a row.

LeBron James and Rui Hachimura remain out, but neither is too far away from being able to play again. ESPN's Shams Charania gave an update on both players on Sunday prior to the Lakers' home game versus Kevin Durant and the Suns.

While James got in his first workout since suffering a groin strain last Saturday versus the Boston Celtics, he's expected to miss at least one more week, although he's considered day-to-day. Charania also added that there is optimism Hachimura, who missed his eighth consecutive game due to patellar tendinopathy on Sunday, will return within a week.

Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown: LeBron James has his first on-court workout today – with ESPN footage – plus a Lakers return timetable update: pic.twitter.com/xTeiMRblnp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2025

Without James and Hachimura, the Lakers have not only lacked offensive firepower but have also been small and thin up front, which has compromised their defense. They gave up 131 to the Nuggets on Friday and 126 points to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday after playing consistently excellent defense for several weeks.

Sunday's game is the first of five in a row at Crypto.com Arena for the Purple and Gold.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers injury updates on LeBron James and Rui Hachimura

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