Lakers’ LeBron James (left foot soreness) out against the Trail Blazers

LOS ANGELES – Lakers star LeBron James missed his first game of the season Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers because of soreness in his left foot.

James, 39, first experienced the discomfort during LA’s loss at the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

On Friday, James played a season-high 43 minutes in an overtime loss at the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with 39 points on 14-for-25 shooting, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

On the season, James is averaging 23 points on 49.5% shooting (35.9% from 3), 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds – by far the most production of any player in NBA history to reach the same stage in a career like James. .

James entered Sunday listed as questionable because of the injury and was then upgraded to probable in the morning before being downgraded back to questionable after the team’s review a few hours before tipoff.

“With LeBron out, we’re going to have to move, we’re going to have to cut, we’re going to have to pass,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the Blazers game. “We’re going to have to play in transition. And I think overall for our team, just coming back to really stress trying to get a touch of every possession. We did that earlier in the year and have come away from that and have to get back to it.”

LA won’t play again until Friday, at the Minnesota Timberwolves, and won’t even practice until Wednesday. Redick said the break could be beneficial for the 22-year veteran James.

“You don’t want him out of the lineup, that’s for sure, but he has an opportunity to get four days of rest before we practice again,” Redick said. “So it could be really good for him.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves was also out, missing a fifth straight game with a contusion in his left pelvis.