The Los Angeles Lakers issued a late injury update ahead of the lakers vs pelicans matchup, downgrading veteran forward Maxi Kleber to questionable with back soreness. The announcement follows a clean injury report on Monday after consecutive blowout wins over Golden State and Sacramento. The game is scheduled for March 3 at 10: 30PM ET.
Lakers Vs Pelicans: Injury update
Maxi Kleber (back soreness) has been downgraded to QUESTIONABLE for the matchup against New Orleans. The Lakers had reported no injuries on Monday following back-to-back blowout victories, but the situation changed on Tuesday when the team listed Kleber as dealing with back soreness. Kleber’s presence on the active roster this season has been limited in minutes, but the coaching staff and teammates have stressed his influence beyond the stat sheet.
Immediate reactions and staff notes
JJ Redick, head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, was asked after Sunday’s win about Kleber’s impact on the team. The coach has taken note of Kleber’s imprint in practice and preparation even when his minutes have been sparse. Doncic, who has played with Kleber for his entire NBA career thus far, also chimed in on the veteran’s recent contributions following the victory over Sacramento. Veteran forward Rui Hachimura lauded Kleber’s impact on the group after Sunday’s game, emphasizing his presence in the locker room and on the floor when available.
What the timeline and matchup details show
The matchup is listed for March 3 at 10: 30PM ET, and Kleber’s downgrade leaves his status uncertain for that window. The Lakers moved from a clean Monday report to a Tuesday update that specifically named Kleber’s back soreness and the QUESTIONABLE designation. That shift creates a late roster question for the lakers vs pelicans game night plans and could force adjustments to rotation and matchups if Kleber is unavailable.
Quick context
Prior to the update, the Lakers had not listed any players with ailments following weekend wins over Golden State and Sacramento. On the New Orleans side of the matchup, commentary around the game noted that one Pelicans starter was listed as questionable and that their roster had recently welcomed a returning player back from an Achilles issue. The late tweak to the Lakers’ injury report is the primary roster development ahead of the scheduled tip at 10: 30PM ET on March 3.
What’s next
The immediate focus is on medical rechecks and the pregame availability report ahead of the lakers vs pelicans meeting. Expect the Lakers to provide final availability updates closer to tip-off; if Kleber is ruled out, the coaching staff will confirm rotation adjustments and match-up plans. Team remarks and any official clearance or absence will set the tone for how the Lakers handle frontline minutes and bench depth for the lakers vs pelicans game night.
