LeBron James: King James Set to Play vs. Lakers Despite Illness

Miami Heat fans can breathe easy, as LeBron James will be in the lineup for Thursday's showdown against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Earlier in the day, the Heat reported via Twitter that James missed the morning shootaround with flu-like symptoms. 

Yet, just after 6 p.m. EST, the Heat tweeted that James will suit up.

It is important that James gets out on the court for this game. This is a statement game for both teams, and Dwyane Wade is already out of action for Miami.

Given the absolute roll that Kobe Bryant has been on lately, the Heat will need all of the offensive firepower they can get. While Chris Bosh is in the midst of a fantastic season, the Heat will need more than just him to beat the Lakers. 

Given that James is averaging nearly 30 points a game to go along with just short of eight rebounds and assists, he'll make a big difference in the lineup. The Heat will need James to go toe-to-toe with Bryant, helping the Heat generate baskets.

This is an important game for both teams. While the playoffs aren't in doubt for either team, these are two of the NBA's best, and it would be a nice mental edge for either to win. 

If the Heat can manage to beat the San Antonio Spurs and Lakers without Dwyane Wade, they have a tremendous mental edge on the rest of the NBA, knowing that they have the mental ability to hang with any team. 

Without James and Wade, it's highly unlikely that the Heat would step up and beat the Lakers, even at home. With LeBron, look for them to knock Los Angeles off. 

Follow @mdixon1985