Lakers' LeBron James questionable Saturday at Pacers

Perhaps Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wasn't merely being dramatic when he said earlier this month that he didn't think he "will ever get back to 100%" from the ankle injury that's bothered him since the second half of March. 

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, James practiced Friday before traveling for Saturday's game at the Indiana Pacers but is listed as questionable to play in that contest. 

"We want to see how he feels in response to today's work, like always, but there's a chance that he plays if things go well," coach Frank Vogel told reporters. 

James missed six weeks with the high-ankle sprain he originally suffered playing against the Atlanta Hawks on March 20 and then aggravated the injury in his second game back on May 2. He hasn't played since then and was ultimately scratched from Tuesday's matchup against the New York Knicks and Wednesday's game versus the Houston Rockets. 

Los Angeles finishes the regular season at the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. 

The Lakers are currently seventh in the Western Conference standings but can avoid the play-in tournament by winning their last two games if the Portland Trail Blazers and/or the Dallas Mavericks stumble this weekend. Portland faces the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, while Dallas takes on the Toronto Raptors on Friday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. 

Los Angeles trails Portland by half a game and Dallas by one game.