Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves final injury report (April 19, 2025): Will LeBron James play tonight?

The Los Angeles Lakers will have LeBron James available for their Western Conference playoff opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night, despite the veteran star being listed as probable with a hip flexor injury.
LeBron James, who tweaked his hip in the final regular-season game against the Houston Rockets, has recovered sufficiently to play in what will be his 288th career playoff appearance.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report is otherwise clean, with only Maxi Kleber sidelined due to right foot surgery. Kleber is expected to return later in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves enter the matchup with a fully healthy roster, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown at Crypto.com Arena.

This playoff series marks another chapter in the Lakers-Timberwolves rivalry, with Los Angeles holding an 8-4 postseason record against Minnesota. The two teams split their regular-season meetings 2-2, adding intrigue to the matchup.
The Lakers, bolstered by their midseason acquisition of Luka Doncic, are considered strong contenders to make a deep playoff run. Minnesota, on the other hand, seeks to advance past the conference finals for the first time in franchise history after falling short last season.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Timberwolves are set for a crucial showdown, with both teams bringing strong stats to the table. Luka Dončić leads the Lakers in scoring (28.2 PPG) and rebounds (8.2 RPG), while LeBron James contributes 8.2 assists per game. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards posts 27.6 points, Rudy Gobert grabs 10.9 boards, and Julius Randle dishes out 4.7 assists.
The Lakers hold a slight edge with a 50-32 record (3rd seed), bolstered by a dominant 31-10 home record. The Timberwolves sit 6th in the standings at 49-33, ranking higher in defensive and net rating, but face a tough road challenge.
Also read: Is Luka Doncic playing tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1? Latest update on the Los Angeles Lakers star's injury report (April 19, 2025)

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, with live coverage on ABC and streaming available via Fubo. Fans will be watching closely to see if LeBron James’ health holds up as the Lakers aim for another championship push.