Lakers vs Bulls Tonight: LeBron James UPGRADED to Available — Tip-Off at 10:30 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena
LeBron James has been cleared to play. After spending the day as questionable, James received his final injury upgrade to available just hours before tip-off, setting up his return to the floor for the first time since March 6. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Chicago Bulls tonight at 10:30 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Is LeBron Playing Tonight? YES — Final Status Confirmed
LeBron James has been upgraded to available for tonight's game versus Chicago. James has missed the last three games while dealing with a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis.
His final status was determined prior to tipoff, which is set for 10:30 PM ET. The four-time champion is back, and the Bulls defense — 12th in the East in points allowed — now has a very real problem on its hands.
Lakers Injury Report vs Bulls: Three Players OUT
Jaxson Hayes (back soreness), Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain), and Marcus Smart (right hip contusion) have been downgraded to OUT for tonight's game versus Chicago. LeBron James is the only player upgraded to available after spending most of Thursday on the questionable list.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | ✅ AVAILABLE | Right hip contusion / left foot arthritis |
| Marcus Smart | ❌ OUT | Right hip contusion |
| Jaxson Hayes | ❌ OUT | Back soreness |
| Maxi Kleber | ❌ OUT | Lumbar back strain |
Lakers 40-25: Four Wins in a Row Would Be Massive
The Lakers are 40-25 and in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, while the Bulls are 27-38 and sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers have gone 14-7 in the 21 games LeBron has missed this season, including a 10-2 record when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are both healthy. The Lakers are 11.5-point home favorites tonight at DraftKings. A fourth straight win would give Los Angeles their best winning streak of the second half of the season.
LeBron James 2025-26 Season Stats
This season, LeBron James has appeared in 44 games for the Lakers, averaging 21.4 points, 7.0 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. In his last appearance on March 6, he scored 16 points in a 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets before his hip and foot flared up.
Bulls Injury Report: 12 Players Listed, Matas Buzelis Probable
Eleven players on Chicago's 15-man roster are listed on the current injury report. Noa Essengue and Zach Collins have both been ruled out for the season, while Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey remain sidelined with injuries that flared after the trade deadline.
Matas Buzelis is listed as probable after pouring in a career-high 41 points in Chicago's overtime win over the Golden State Warriors two nights ago. Collin Sexton is questionable with a left leg injury. Sexton is averaging 16.2 points and has scored 28 and 30 in his last two outings, making his status critical for Chicago's chances of keeping it close.
Where to Watch Lakers vs Bulls Tonight
Tonight's game tips at 10:30 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game airs on NBA TV nationally, with local coverage on Spectrum SportsNet in Los Angeles and NBC Sports Chicago for Bulls fans. Live streaming is available via fuboTV and the NBA League Pass app.
