Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will be sitting out the upcoming game against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday to allow his sore left ankle to rest. The decision was announced by the Lakers approximately four hours before the scheduled tip-off against the Pacers.
Despite dealing with ongoing ankle pain, the 40-year-old James has been in exceptional form in recent weeks, contributing significantly to the Lakers' success. The team has won four consecutive games and 10 out of their last 12 matchups, even after the trade that sent center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.
James had not missed a game since December 28th when he sat out against the Sacramento Kings. Throughout the current season, he has only missed a total of four games due to various reasons.
On the other hand, Doncic, who was acquired in the trade with the Mavericks, will also be absent from the game against the Pacers as he continues to recover from a strained left calf. The talented Slovenian player is anticipated to make his debut for the Lakers in the upcoming game against the Utah Jazz on Monday.
James has been delivering exceptional performances, averaging 29.0 points, 9.9 assists, and 8.4 rebounds over the last seven games. Notably, he recently made history by becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 40 points in a single game, achieving this milestone with a 42-point performance against the Golden State Warriors.
As a 21-time All-Star selection, James was the top pick in the team draft for the upcoming All-Star competition in San Francisco next weekend. The Lakers have two more games remaining before the All-Star break, with a home-and-home series against the Utah Jazz.
Additionally, Mark Williams, the center recently acquired by the Lakers from the Charlotte Hornets, is currently listed as questionable for the game against the Pacers.
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