LeBron James will sit out the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night due to ongoing soreness in his left foot. This marks the second consecutive game he will miss after the team returned from a brief four-day break.
The Lakers made the announcement regarding James on Thursday, following his earlier absence from practices for personal reasons, as noted by coach JJ Redick. It remains uncertain whether James will make the trip to Minnesota, ahead of another home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
James, who is the top scorer in NBA history, previously missed the first game of his record-tying 22nd NBA season, where the Lakers triumphed over the Portland Trail Blazers at home. Currently, he is averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Lakers, who have struggled recently, losing seven of their last ten games after a promising start of 10-4.
In terms of team updates, Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable for the Minnesota game as he recovers from a pelvic bruise that kept him out of the previous five games. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is listed as probable with left plantar fasciitis, indicating his potential return could boost the team’s performance.
Despite LeBron’s absence, the Lakers have an opportunity to rally together and showcase depth in their roster. With players like Davis and Reaves potentially returning, fans can remain hopeful that the team will overcome these challenges and regain some momentum.