In Thursday’s loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron James struggled at times although he still ended up with a triple-double including 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists (-14 as well which was the only negative +/- in the starting lineup).
It appears that we now have a little bit of an explanation for LeBron’s struggles on the court in Milwaukee, as it appears that LeBron was playing through an injury sustained in Tuesday’s loss against the Indiana Pacers, according to Spectrum SportsNet reporter, Mike Trudell.
LeBron James has a thoracic muscle strain and is doubtful to play tomorrow against Denver. We’ll see if Frank Vogel has some details about when it happened, etc., in a moment.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 21, 2019
Frank Vogel on LeBron’s injury: “It was sustained in the Indiana game and he played through it against Milwaukee.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 21, 2019
As explained here, a thoracic muscle strain in a strain in the upper or middle of the back. The injury had to have impacted LeBron’s explosiveness, which he never really showed in the Lakers 111-104 loss to the Bucks. As Kyle Goon/Southern Califronia News Group states here, the news was announced by Trudell and Vogel following the Lakers’ practice on Saturday, in which LeBron James didn’t play. Obviously it’ll hurt the Lakers in Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets if LeBron doesn’t play. In the Lakers’ December 3rd matchup against the Nuggets, the Lakers won behind LeBron’s 25 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. But, Lakers fans are probably more worried about LeBron’s status for Wednesday’s Christmas matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. If sitting out against the Nuggets means LeBron plays against the Clippers, I think we’ll take it.
While all of that news isn’t encouraging, there was someone who had a full practice today who has missed some time of late, and that is Kyle Kuzma.
Kyle Kuzma practiced in full today and is probable to play against Denver tomorrow.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 21, 2019
Kuzma has missed the past five games with his ankle sprain, and his return might be much needed with an absence from LeBron. Even if LeBron finds a way to play, the Lakers could probably use Kuzma’s potential shot creation, as they’ve struggled in that regard at times with LeBron James or Anthony Davis on the bench.
We’ll keep you updated between now and tomorrow with LeBron and Kuzma’s statuses for Sunday’s game against the Nuggets, as well as their statuses for Wednesday’s Christmas Day matchup against the Clippers.
