Sources: LeBron could play the last week of the season

THE ANGELS — Lebron James He is making progress toward a recovery from his injured right foot, and there is growing optimism that the Los Angeles Lakers star can return to playing “a few” games in the final week of the regular season, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

James, who suffered a hamstring injury in his right foot on February 26 in Dallas, has resumed court activity and is in a “gradual progression of basketball movement,” the Lakers announced Thursday.

The Lakers’ last three regular season games are all in Los Angeles, against the Clippers on April 5, the Phoenix Suns on April 7 and the Utah Jazz on April 9.

James tweeted Thursday that he’s working out three times a day for the “best chance of coming back to full strength.”

When asked for more details about the nature of James’ workouts, Lakers coach Darvin Ham simply said: “They’re intense and they’re going well.”

The Lakers are number 10 in the Western Conference and occupy the final spot in the play-in tournament with nine games remaining.

However, they’re just 1 1/2 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the No. 6 seed, which would mean a guaranteed first-round berth if LA could rise to that spot in the standings.

James was averaging 29.5 points on 50.1% shooting, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game before the injury, an unprecedented output for a player in his 20th NBA season.

The Lakers have stayed afloat without him, going 7-5 since he was sidelined, including winning their last two games.