The Los Angeles Lakers got a big reprieve this weekend, as they welcomed back LeBron James and Rui Hachimura back into the starting lineup.
While the Lakers did lose to a much-weaker Chicago Bulls team – a result that did not make Magic Johnson happy – there is optimism in the long run with their squad.
The team being fully healthy for the final stretch of the season allows the Lakers to be at their best. And going into the last mile of this campaign, the team needs all hands on deck.
But could the Lakers already be missing players again? It looks like one star who recently returned is back to struggling with injuries.
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Rui Hachimura questionable vs. Magic
The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report ahead of their trip to face the Orlando Magic. In the report, Rui Hachimura, who returned in the last game, is listed as questionable.
Meanwhile, LeBron James, who also made his return against the Bulls, is listed as probable. This will be concerning to Lakers fans, as Hachimura is already struggling with injuries so soon after returning.
Perhaps this is just a precautionary measure and Hachimura will be a game-time decision come tonight. But this does ring alarm bells for Lakers fans.
Losing Hachimura, who has been an integral star for them, so quickly after he just returned from a hiatus will be a worry for the LakeShow.
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Lakers must get back to winning ways
The Lakers are currently 0-2 in their last two games. Their loss against the Bucks was understandable, given a large portion of their rotation was unavailable on the night.
But their loss to the Bulls, given that they had their entire team available to play, was absolutely shocking. The hope is that the game was nothing more than an aberration.
The Lakers currently sit fourth in the Western Conference with a 43-27 record. With just 12 games left to play, the Lakers will want to win a majority of their fixtures to try and secure the highest seed possible.
Right now, the race for the second seed feels like a three-horse race between the Lakers, Nuggets, and Rockets. It will be an exciting closing stretch of the season for these three teams.