LeBron James will not participate in the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening due to discomfort in his left foot. This marks his second consecutive game missed after the team returned from a four-day break, as was confirmed by the Lakers on Thursday.
Earlier this week, James took time away from the team for personal reasons, as shared by Coach JJ Redick. It remains uncertain if he will travel to Minnesota for the match, as the Lakers prepare for their next home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
As the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron’s absence is significant, particularly as he missed his first game of the season last Sunday when the Lakers secured a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Currently, he holds averages of 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game. Following a strong start to the season at 10-4, the Lakers are facing challenges, having lost seven out of their last ten games and now standing at 13-11.
In other team news, Austin Reaves has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for the matchup against Minnesota after missing the last five games due to a pelvic bruise. Additionally, Anthony Davis is listed as probable as he continues to deal with left plantar fasciitis.
This situation calls for resilience from the Lakers as they navigate player absences. With a potential return from Reaves, and an optimistic outlook regarding Davis, there remains hope for the Lakers to turn around their recent struggles and build momentum as the season progresses.