NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Lakers face a challenging period as they prepare to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night without their star player, LeBron James. James suffered a left groin strain during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 111-101 defeat against the Boston Celtics on Saturday. The team has yet to disclose the expected duration of James’ absence.
LeBron, however, remains optimistic about his recovery timeline, expressing his belief that the injury is less severe than the one he sustained in a Christmas game back in 2018, a setback that sidelined him for 17 games. The injury is a significant blow for the Lakers, who were riding high on an eight-game winning streak before their loss to the Celtics.
Adding to their woes, the Lakers are also without center Jaxson Hayes, who is dealing with a right knee contusion, alongside forwards Dorian Finney-Smith, suffering from left ankle soreness, and Rui Hachimura, battling left patellar tendinopathy. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic’s participation is uncertain as he is experiencing back discomfort.
The team will look to manage these injuries carefully while maintaining momentum in their upcoming fixtures, all while hoping for a quick return of their leading scorer and key players.
