LeBron (foot pain) sits for the first time this season

James, 39, first experienced the discomfort during Los Angeles’ loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers star, LeBron Jameswill miss his first game of the season this Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers due to pain in the left foot.

James, 39, first experienced the discomfort during Los Angeles’ loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

On Friday, James played a season-high 43 minutes in an overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with 39 points on 14 of 25 shooting, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

On the season, James is averaging 23 points on 49.5% shooting (35.9% from 3-point range), 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds, by far the highest production of any player in NBA history to reach the top. same stage in a career as James.

James entered Sunday as doubtful due to the injury and was then upgraded to probable in the morning before being downgraded again to doubtful after the team practice a couple of hours before kickoff.

“With LeBron out, we’re going to have to move, we’re going to have to cut, we’re going to have to pass,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game against the Blazers. “We’re going to have to play in transition. And I think overall for our team, just put the emphasis back on trying to touch the paint on every possession. We were doing that at the beginning of the year and we’ve gotten away from that and we need to get back to it.” that”.

LA will not play again until Friday, in Minnesota Timberwolves and he won’t even practice until Wednesday. Redick said the rest could be beneficial for James, a 22-year veteran on the court.

“You don’t want him to be out of the lineup, that’s for sure, but he has a chance to rest four days before we practice again,” Redick said. “So, it could be really good for him.”

The Lakers guard, Austin Reaves He is also out, missing his fifth straight game due to a left pelvic contusion.