Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James missed his third consecutive game on Tuesday as he continues to recover from arthritis in his left foot and a contusion on his left elbow. The 22-time All-Star completed his customary pre-game shooting routine before the matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves but ultimately opted to sit out, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Head coach JJ Redick told reporters that James attended the club’s film session on Monday but did not join the on-court practice. After sitting out the season’s first 14 games because of a sciatic nerve issue, the 39-year-old had missed only four of the previous 48 contests before this latest stretch.
Melton cleared for first back-to-back
Golden State guard De’Anthony Melton was listed as questionable but expected to appear in both ends of a back-to-back for the first time this season when the Warriors hosted the Chicago Bulls. Coach Steve Kerr limited Melton to 20 minutes in Monday’s loss to Utah to ensure he could handle Tuesday’s workload. The 25-year-old has scored at least 20 points in four of his past six outings.
Warriors lean on low-cost youth
With a veteran-heavy, high-salary roster, Golden State places added value on inexpensive deals for young contributors such as Moses Moody and Gui Santos, NBC Sports’ Dalton Johnson reported. Spotrac analyst Keith Smith cited New York’s three-year, $13 million extension for Miles McBride as a model for contracts that allow emerging players to outperform their pay and help organizations stay competitive around star cores.
Kennard’s shooting reshapes Lakers offense
Lakers guard Luke Kennard has converted 56.1% of his three-point attempts over the past six games, a span in which Los Angeles has gone 5-1. Prior to acquiring the sharpshooter, the Lakers were hitting 34.9% from deep; since his arrival, that figure has climbed to 39.2%. Kennard credited playmakers James and Luka Doncic for generating open looks, adding, “It’s definitely something you think about—like, man, I wish that was me there getting those open looks. But now it’s a reality.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
