Is LeBron James playing tonight against Indiana Pacers? Latest on 4-time MVP's injury status (March 29)

LeBron James is available to play after being listed as questionable against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The four-time MVP has had that tag for nearly the entire season.

James has had non-contact wear and tear injuries for most of the year, making him a staple on the Lakers' injury report. However, he has missed only 10 games this year, making the most appearances in a season (63) since 2019-20, when he played 67 times and led LA to a title.

What happened to LeBron James?

James has been on the Lakers' injury report since January with a persistent left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. James has missed seven of his 10 games this year because of the ailment, most recently against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

LeBron James stats vs. Indiana Pacers

LeBron James has a history with the Pacers since his Eastern Conference days with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

He has played 65 games against them, averaging 27.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists on 49/30/73 splits. James has a 41-24 record against Indiana.

James and the Lakers are 2-0 against the Pacers this season, including the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Finals win. That, of course, didn't count as a regular-season game, unlike the other contests in the inaugural In-Season tournament.

James was influential in both games. He tallied 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a 123-109 win in the IST final. James had 26 points, five rebounds and 10 assists in the Lakers' first regular season game against the Pacers on Sunday.

The Lakers dropped 150 points in regulation, the most since a 157-point outing by the "Showtime Lakers" in 1987. The Pacers kept it close, tallying 145 points.

James 'strategic' with ankle ailment

LeBron James is being careful with his ankle ailment. The Lakers star said that he has been 'strategic' with his workload to ensure that he's available for the team when it matters the most.

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The Lakers have fared decently in James' absence, going 6-4. They might rack up a few wins in the regular season without him against weaker opponents. However, if James aggravates the ankle injury in the postseason, the Lakers may struggle to make another deep playoff push.

The Lakers are pushing for a top-six seeding, but it won't mean much if that comes at James' expense. The team has not experienced a playoff game without the four-time NBA MVP, who, in year 21, remains their best asset in the knockouts.