Luka Dončić made his Laker debut Monday night against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena while LeBron James returned to action after a one-game absence.
Dončić has not played since Dec. 25 because of a left calf sprain. The five-time All-NBA guard missed the first three games since being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade also involving the Jazz Feb. 2 and had been originally listed as questionable for Monday’s game, but the team announced at 11:17 a.m. that he and James had been upgraded to probable.
James missed Saturday’s 124-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers because of left ankle soreness. James became the oldest player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in his most recent game, scoring 42 in Wednesday’s 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
James was 40 years and 38 days old Wednesday, 34 days older than when Michael Jordan scored 43 points for the Washington Wizards against the New Jersey Nets on Feb. 21, 2003, the only other time in NBA history a player in his 40s scored at least 40 points.
Rookie guard Dalton Knecht was upgraded from questionable to probable at 12:13 p.m. Knecht was on the injury report because of what the team only described as “personal” reasons. Knecht was traded to the Charlotte Hornets Thursday as part of a package for center Mark Williams but the trade was rescinded Saturday because of what the Lakers called a “failure to satisfy a condition of the trade.”
Forward Cam Reddish, who was also dealt in the canceled trade, will miss the game because of “personal” reasons.
The Lakers (31-19) have won five consecutive games and nine of their last 10 to move within a half-game of fourth-place Houston (33-20) in the Western Conference.
This will be the third of four games between the teams this season. The Lakers are 2-0 against Utah, including a 105-104 victory Dec. 1 in Salt Lake City in their most recent meeting. They will also meet Wednesday in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz (12-39) have won two of their five games following an eight-game losing streak. Utah is 14th in the 15-team conference.
Elizabeth Ireland contributed to this article.
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