Lakers star LeBron James returned to the lineup Thursday night against the Bulls, with the team upgrading him to available an hour before tipoff after James had missed the previous three games.
James was sidelined for the Lakers' previous three wins over the Pacers , Knicks and Timberwolves because of left foot arthritis and right hip contusion/left elbow contusion.
Lakers star LeBron James returned to the lineup Thursday night against the Bulls. NBAE via Getty Images
The 41-year-old James last played in the Lakers' March 5 loss to the Nuggets in Denver , which is when he suffered the elbow and hip injuries before being sidelined for a week.
James averaged 21.4 points (50.4% shooting), seven assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in the 44 games he played this season entering Thursday.
While James returned, the Lakers had multiple key role players — including a starter — sidelined against the Bulls.
They ruled out starting guard Marcus Smart, and backup big men Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber 6 ½ hours before tipoff.
Smart, who was listed as questionable on the Lakers' Wednesday evening injury report, was ruled out because of a right hip contusion.
Marcus Smart was ruled out of Thursday night's game because of a right hip contusion. Getty Images
The 32-year-old, 12-year NBA veteran had played in 41 of 42 games, including being a starter for 39 of those games, entering Thursday after having a six-game absence from Nov. 28-Dec. 7 because of back ailments.
Coach JJ Redick said pregame that Smart had been dealing with the hip injury for "a couple of games."
"He wants to play, but we need it to calm down," Redick added. "We got a really tough stretch. We're in the midst of a really tough stretch and some travel coming up. Day to day, and we expect that he'll, hopefully, be back on Saturday against Denver."
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Hayes missed his second straight game because of back soreness.
Redick said Hayes had imaging done in his back, but the team didn't have the results Thursday evening.
Kleber was sidelined for the fifth time in six games because of a back ailment, officially being ruled out because of a back strain.
"This is an issue that flared up earlier in the season in December; it's flared up again," Redick said. "He's had some good days. He's had some bad days. He's probably going to be out for a little bit, just so we can get this to calm down."
