Lakers' LeBron James to play vs. Knicks despite illness

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- LeBron Jameswas excused from shootaround after being "under the weather" but still will play against theNew York Knickson Tuesday night.

The Lakers were hopeful James would play despite him "not feeling good at all," according to coach Frank Vogel.

The 35-year-old Lakers star has missed only one game all season and is averaging 24.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists for L.A., which is No. 1 in the Western Conference with a 29-7 record and enters the Knicks game riding a five-game winning streak.

The Lakers also will welcome Avery Bradley back to the lineup Tuesday. Bradley, L.A.'s starting shooting guard for much of the season, suffered a sprained right ankle that kept him out of the second half of the Lakers' win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

After the game, Bradley received X-rays -- which came back negative -- and an MRI on Monday revealed no further damage beyond the sprain.

"I feel a lot better. Unfortunate play. The training staff did a great job of getting me prepared to play today," Bradley said. "Just a little freak accident."

Bradley previously missed 13 straight games from mid-November until early December with a hairline fracture on the fibular head of his right leg. Vogel said he immediately thought of Bradley's previous injury when he saw him go down on the court against Detroit.

"I felt like it was going to be [more serious]," Vogel said. "First just seeing the ankle roll, and then his reaction right when it happened. It seemed like he could barely put pressure on it. But it loosened up, and then overnight, very, very minimal swelling. So he felt good today. He's good to go."