LOS ANGELES — LeBron James will be taking a break during the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday due to discomfort in his left ankle.
This decision was disclosed by the Lakers approximately four hours prior to the game.
The 40-year-old forward has been performing exceptionally well lately, contributing significantly to the Lakers’ (30-19) current four-game winning streak and ten victories in their last twelve contests.
Notably, the Lakers made a significant trade over the weekend, exchanging center Anthony Davis for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
Even though James has been coping with persistent ankle issues, he hadn’t missed a game since December 28, when he sat out against Sacramento, participating in every game since and only missing four in total this season.
Doncic will also not play against the Pacers as he is still recuperating from a calf strain sustained over the Christmas holiday.
The talented guard has been back in practice with his new team this week, and he is anticipated to make his debut with the Lakers on Monday against the Utah Jazz.
“LeBron is experiencing a bit more discomfort in that foot after the last game,” Lakers coach JJ Redick explained ahead of Saturday’s contest.
“Luka is making good progress, but we will assess that closer to game time on Monday.”
In his last seven games, James has been averaging 29.0 points, 9.9 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game.
He also made history by becoming the oldest player in the NBA to score 40 points, hitting 42 in a recent win against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
With ongoing discussion about how James and Doncic will coexist on the Lakers’ roster, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who previously coached Doncic for three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, is intrigued to see how it unfolds.
“I can’t envision a scenario in which it doesn’t work beautifully,” Carlisle stated.
“Both players have the unique ability to influence the tempo and style of play. James and Doncic are both masterful at dissecting a game, making it incredibly challenging for opposing teams to formulate a game plan. Ultimately, it boils down to how one is willing to lose. This is the Lakers we’re talking about, a franchise with a storied legacy, and it presents an incredible opportunity for Luka.”
James, who is a renowned 21-time All-Star, was selected as the first overall pick for the upcoming All-Star game scheduled in San Francisco next weekend.
Before the All-Star break, the Lakers still have two remaining contests, including a home-and-home series against Utah.
In addition, Mark Williams, a center recently acquired from Charlotte, was also not available for the game against Indiana due to the trade still being processed.
Coach Redick expressed optimism about having James, Doncic, and Williams ready for Monday’s game.
“There’s no reason for us not to,” he remarked. “We’re not aiming to keep players sidelined.”
Pacers center Myles Turner was also absent from the game due to a head injury; however, Carlisle clarified that Turner was not in the concussion protocol.
“He has shown improvement over the last couple of days, but today just wasn’t feasible,” Carlisle noted.
