Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James continues to pay the price for his scoring-record chase and will sit out a third consecutive game Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
James has not played since last Tuesday, when he scored 38 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record. He left the court late in that game and has been out ever since with what has been labeled “left-ankle soreness.”
The Trail Blazers also will be without a key component to their offense, with Jerami Grant ruled out while in concussion protocol.
James has averaged 30.2 points per game this season, along with 8.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
“We’re just taking this time that we have to get him treated and hopefully get him back so we can make a good run and he can be in the midst of it down the stretch,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said.
Grant, who is third best on the Trail Blazers with 20.8 points per game, was injured in Friday’s 138-129 home defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Grant took a blow to the face in the first quarter but remained in the game and was diagnosed with a concussion Saturday.
–Field Level Media