LOS ANGELES — The star returned for the Los Angeles Lakers after missing the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but when LeBron James stepped onto the Crypto.com Arena court Friday night, he had to play without three more of his trusty mates and had to incorporate a new face to help the cause.
James and the Lakers had to endure the loss of key role player Austin Reaves, who missed the game against the Atlanta Hawks because of a left hamstring injury that will have him being reevaluated in about two weeks; wing player Lonnie Walker IV, who was diagnosed with left knee tendinitis and also will be reevaluated in about two weeks; and Troy Brown, who was out because of a left quad strain.
Those injuries led to the Lakers signing guard Sterling Brown to a 10-day contact and it meant James, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the healthy crew had to push forward despite being undermanned.
