Los Angeles Lakers center Mo Bamba, who hasn't played since the first round of the playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies as he deals with a left ankle injury, is expected to be cleared for a return as soon as Game 4 or 5 of the Western Conference finals, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Bamba has missed nine straight playoff games, including Game 3 on Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets.
A 7-foot center, Bamba could offer a Lakers team lacking size in its rotation another option on Nuggets superstar big man Nikola Jokic.