Los Angeles Lakers get LeBron James, Anthony Davis back for key game against New Orleans Pelicans

LOS ANGELES -- Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis will return to the lineup for the Lakers'crucial game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, the team announced.

James missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle and was cleared to play after undergoing an on-court workout about an hour before tipoff.

Davis has missed the Lakers' past 18 games with a right mid-foot sprain. L.A. went 4-14 during that span without him, which was the third worst record in the league since the All-Star break.

L.A. comes into Friday's showdown in the No. 11 spot in the Western Conference, facing No. 9 New Orleans, which is two games up on the Lakers for one of the two play-in tournament berths with six games remaining.