LeBron sidelined; Lakers win without veteran leader
PUBLISHED Mar 10, 2026, 11:22 PM ET
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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James missed his third consecutive game Tuesday with a right hip contusion and lingering left foot arthritis, the Lakers announced two hours before they hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coach JJ Redick said James completed pregame shooting but remains day-to-day after a fall in Denver. The Lakers defeated Minnesota 120-106, with Luka Doncic recording 31 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds and Austin Reaves scoring 31 including 29 in the second half. Los Angeles improved to 40-25 and swept the season series. Statements, coach quotes and game statistics confirm these developments. Based on 6 articles reviewed and research.
By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Last Thursday: LeBron took a hard fall in Denver, suffering a right hip contusion and left elbow contusion.
- Following the fall: LeBron continued managing chronic left foot arthritis and underwent pregame shooting but remained day-to-day.
- Two hours before tipoff (Tuesday): Lakers announced James would miss the Timberwolves game.
- Tuesday night: Lakers beat Minnesota 120-106; Luka Doncic posted a 31-point triple-double and Austin Reaves scored 31.
- After the game: Lakers improved to 40-25, completed a season sweep of Minnesota and held the tiebreaker in the Western Conference.
News Intelligence
- LeBron's absence might worry fans, but the Lakers' win shows depth. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves stepped up, proving the team can perform under pressure. If you're a fan, it's a good time to check out these rising stars.
- Articles Published:
- 11
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- 0
- Left Leaning:
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- Neutral:
- 11
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- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
Reserve players, notably Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, the Lakers coaching staff, and the organization benefited from increased scoring output, demonstrated depth and a season-series sweep while LeBron James was unavailable.
LeBron James suffered a right hip contusion and lingering left foot arthritis after a fall in Denver, forcing him to miss multiple games and limiting his availability for the Lakers.
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LeBron sidelined; Lakers win without veteran leader
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