Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss his fourth straight game because of a left knee injury.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, James will likely be sidelined for Wednesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass) and could miss more time because of irritation in his left knee. As of Wednesday afternoon, James was listed as doubtful on the NBA’s injury report.
Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss Wednesday’s game vs. Portland, and could be out a few more games due to irritation in left knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Sides want to be cautious and allow James to return once irritation subsides.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2022
He did not play in the final three games of the Lakers’ recent six-game road trip and returned to Los Angeles when the Lakers played the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. James made that trip back to receive treatment on his left knee injury, which Lakers coach Frank Vogel categorized as “general swelling.”
“As the long as the swelling is there he’s going to be out,” Vogel said Sunday.
The Lakers (24-27) have lost three in a row and eight of their last 11 games and are No. 9 in the Western Conference standings. James is enjoying one of his best seasons in several years, averaging 29.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 35.2% on 3-pointers and 52.2% overall.
He last played in a game for the Lakers on Jan. 25, logging 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in a 106-96 win in Brooklyn.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.