Vibes were high for the Los Angeles Lakers as the team climbed up the Western Conference rankings to No. 2. After beating the Knicks in overtime in LA, the Lakers traveled to Boston to take on the defending champion Celtics. Not only did they lose the game, but they were dealt a tough injury blow.
LeBron James left Saturday's game in Boston with over six minutes to play and didn't return. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the superstar would miss one-to-two weeks with a groin injury. The Lakers lost their first game without LeBron, a 111-108 loss in Brooklyn to the lowly Nets. Luka Doncic's triple-double wasn't enough to power LA to a win.
The Lakers have the third-best record in the conference, but there's only four and a half games between them and the No. 7 Timberwolves. Los Angeles is at risk of dropping down the standings with LeBron sidelined, and the upcoming schedule will do the team no favors.
They'll host the Bucks on Thursday in their first of six games in eight days. As if that's not challenging enough, two of those games will be against the Nuggets, one in Denver (Friday) and one in LA (next Wednesday). LeBron will miss Friday's game, and could also miss next Wednesday's.
Lakers have a tough upcoming stretch with LeBron James sidelined
The NBA rescheduled four Lakers games because of the January wildfires, and they've already made up two. They'll host the Spurs on Monday in the second game of a back-to-back, and the Bucks next Thursday in yet another second half of a back-to-back (after hosting the Nuggets).
On Tuesday, Rich Paul was on the Pat McAfee Show and said he "won't put a timetable" on LeBron's return. LeBron said on Saturday he wasn't too concerned with the injury, which was good to hear.
The last thing the Lakers want is for LeBron to rush back, only to risk further injury. The goal is to have him as healthy as possible in time for the playoffs, which will start in a little over a month. LA was on pace to finish as a top team in the West with LeBron and Luka, but could be the sixth seed when the former returns.
One thing is for sure -- the trade for Luka looks better than ever with LeBron out.
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