Lakers center JaVale McGee will miss Sunday's game against the Grizzlies with a respiratory infection, the Lakers announced (via ESPN).
McGee is set to miss his fourth game, and according to Yahoo Sports, the 30-year-old center had been hospitalized for three days with pneumonia. He was admitted Thursday to the UCLA Medical Center with a 104-degree fever after the Lakers returned from a four-game road trip.
He will be with the team Sunday, though he will not play and is considered day-to-day, per the report.
“I feel a little better,” McGee told Yahoo Sports. “Surprisingly, I didn’t lose any weight. All I can do is get healthy and get back in shape as soon as possible so that I can contribute towards making us a playoff-contending team. ... I just can’t wait to get back.”
McGee, who is averaging 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 29 games this season, hopes to be back for the Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Warriors, his former team.
“Of course, that’s the only thing, the only game I’ve been thinking about while being bedridden is the Christmas Day game,” McGee said. “No offense to the other teams, but that’s really important to me. I’ve got to get better for that game. That’s the homecoming, the ring ceremony. It’s really important.”
Los Angeles enters Sunday's matchup against Memphis with a 19-13 record.
