Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is unsure when LeBron James will make his return to the court after missing his second consecutive game. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, sat out Sunday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers due to a sore foot and also missed practice earlier in the week for “personal reasons,” as confirmed by Redick.
When asked before Friday’s 97-87 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves if he knew when the 39-year-old would be back, Redick replied, “No.”
The Lakers’ defeat at the Target Center marked their eighth loss in 11 games, while the Timberwolves secured their fifth win in six outings, fueled by 23 points from Anthony Edwards and 21 from Julius Randle.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Los Angeles will next face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday (02:30 GMT, Monday).
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers suffered a sinus fracture during his team’s 121-107 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, was playing just his sixth game of the season after recovering from a knee injury and serving a suspension for an altercation with a reporter.
In the second quarter, he was accidentally struck near the cheekbone by Bennedict Mathurin of the Pacers while competing for a rebound. Embiid received treatment on the court but did not return to the game.
