Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) laughs on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James missed Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers because of left foot soreness, the NBA scoring leader’s first missed game of the season.
James, 39, had been upgraded to probable early Sunday before being downgraded to doubtful less than two hours before the alert. He was officially ruled out about 30 minutes before the match.
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James played in the Lakers’ first 23 games of the season, averaging 23.0 points with 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds.
READ: LeBron’s jumper is off and the Lakers are struggling on offense
Los Angeles is off to a fast 10-4 start, but has lost seven of its last nine games, including a 134-132 overtime loss at Atlanta on Friday, and sits at 12-11.
James recorded his seventh triple-double of the season in the loss, finishing with 39 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the 119th triple-double of his career.
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick put a positive spin on James’ absence, saying the night “could be good for him” as Los Angeles doesn’t play again until Friday at Minnesota.
READ: LeBron says he’s taking a break from social media for now
The Lakers were also without Austin Reaves for the fifth straight game due to a left pelvic contusion. Anthony Davis was active after being listed on the team’s status report as possibly having left plantar fasciitis.
James, in his record 22nd NBA season, averaged 27.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 1,515 regular season games.
He averaged 28.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 287 career playoff games, while reaching the playoffs 17 times.
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