LeBron James is returning for Lakers vs. Bulls after injury

LeBron James is back and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Lakers.

James will be active for Sunday afternoon’s Lakers-Bulls game after missing the last 13 games with a foot injury.

The 38-year-old’s return comes at a time when the Lakers have been working their way up the extremely tight Western Conference rankings, coming into play in eighth place on Sunday but 37-37 and 1.5 games behind the Clippers were seventh with the Timberwolves and the Warriors with eight games to go.

The Lakers managed to go 8-5 during James’ absence and carried a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s home game.

Things are so open in the Western Conference that the Lakers started the day two games behind in fourth place, but also one game ahead of 11th place, which is outside of the play-in tournament.

After Sunday, the Lakers begin a five-game road trip Wednesday with a rematch against the Bulls in Chicago before taking on the Timberwolves, Rockets and Jazz.

The trip ends in fact with a home game against the Clippers.

The Lakers end the season with home games against the Suns and Jazz.

James, who surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier this season to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, averaged 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 47 games this season.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers in James’ absence, averaging 27.3 points and 12.8 rebounds in 11 games since James’ injury.