The Los Angeles Lakers have downgraded LeBron James to out for Tuesday night’s road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club announced. The forward had initially been listed as questionable with a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis.
James, 41, will sit for a third consecutive contest. Los Angeles won the first two games of his absence, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a blowout and then leading wire-to-wire against the New York Knicks.
The Lakers are 9-2 this season in games James has missed while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both available. Even so, head coach Darvin Ham has repeatedly emphasized that the team’s postseason ceiling hinges on James being healthy and fully integrated alongside Doncic, one of the league’s other high-IQ playmakers.
Tuesday’s contest carries additional weight in the Western Conference race. Minnesota eliminated Los Angeles in last year’s opening playoff round, and the Lakers trail the Timberwolves by just one game for the conference’s No. 3 seed. It will be the third meeting between the clubs this season; the Lakers won the first two, both of which also came without James.
James voices frustration over NBA officiating
During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, James criticized what he called the league’s inconsistent whistle. “As a player, it’s so inconsistent,” he said. “Some games you can completely bear-hug guys, and two nights later you can barely put your hands on them. OK, what are we doing?”
Source: LakersNation.com
