After beating the Toronto Raptors, the Los Angeles Lakers dropped a much different headline, one that cast real doubt on James’ availability for the next marquee matchup.
“Lakers announce LeBron has been dealing with left foot joint arthritis in addition to his right sciatica. Bron is doubtful to play vs. the Celtics,” Bleacher Report posted on X.
For James, it is another turn in a season that hasn’t given him much breathing room. The sciatica flare-up already kept him out for 14 games and snapped a streak he built over two decades.
Even when he returned, it didn’t take long for another long-running mark to fall: his run of 1,297 straight double-figure scoring games ended in a single quiet night.
Yet anytime he’s actually been on the floor, you can tell the Lakers still run through him. In six appearances, he’s averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists while hitting 41.3 percent from the field.
A loss in Boston
James, dealing with a pair of injuries that have followed him through the first half of the season, remained sidelined as Los Angeles fell 126-105 in its lone visit to TD Garden this year. It marked the second time in three seasons that James has missed the Lakers‘ only trip to Boston.
Los Angeles was also without Luka Doncic, who did not play for personal reasons, and Marcus Smart, who continued to nurse a back injury. Without that trio, the Lakers struggled to match Boston’s pace and depth, falling behind early and never recovering.
Following the loss, head coach JJ Redick kept the focus on the hope that this stretch of absences will not extend much longer.
“The hope for all the guys would be that they’re available Sunday,” Redick said. “That’s the hope for everybody.”
James’ status remains the biggest variable. Turning 41 later this month, he has tried to manage his workload carefully, yet the physical setback in Toronto raised questions about how sustainable that balance will be as the season continues.
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