Lakers news: LeBron James injury update, historic comeback win, playoff watch

The second half of the NBA season is in full swing and things have started off great for the Los Angeles Lakers. This looks like a completely different Lakers team than the one that played before the trade deadline — because, well, it is.

Los Angeles defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday to record a third consecutive win. The team has not yet lost with the entire new-look roster together and on Sunday they won without D’Angelo Russell in the lineup.

With the NBA Playoffs right around the corner, every bit of Lakers news is magnified as the team looks to climb up the Western Conference standings. Here is everything you need to know on this beautiful Monday.

Lakers news roundup:

• After suffering a foot injury during Sunday’s win, LeBron James told reporters that his foot has “been better” and that he wanted to finish the game. Darvin Ham reiterated that LeBron is “good” and would receive additional testing before the team’s next game.
• Los Angeles didn’t just beat Dallas on Sunday, they beat them in historic fashion. The Lakers came back from a 27-point deficit to shock the Mavs. Not only is that the biggest Lakers comeback of the season but it is the biggest comeback for any team this season.
• The Lakers got just about as much help as they possibly could have gotten on Sunday in terms of playoff seeding. The Phoenix Suns (fourth in West), Mavericks (sixth), Thunder (13th) and Clippers (fifth) all lost on Sunday. Los Angeles is one game out of a play-in spot and 2.5 games back from avoiding the play-in altogether.

Speaking of LeBron’s injury, there was a video of LeBron taken as he was leaving the American Airlines Arena. He has a noticeable limp, so hopefully, he will be good to go on Tuesday in Memphis.

NBA news roundup:

• Damian Lillard put together a truly special night against the Houston Rockets. Lillard scored 71 points on Sunday, making it the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell also dropped 71 in a game earlier this season.
• Quin Snyder agreed to a five-year contract to be the next coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta fired former head coach Nate McMillan during the all-star break.
• The Orlando Magic signed Michael Carter-Williams to a two-year contract on Sunday. Carter Williams last played in the NBA during the 2020-21 season with the Magic.