Lakers practice unsure of James’ return after defeat

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick says he doesn’t know when LeBron James will return after missing a second straight game.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and four-time NBA champion, missed Sunday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers with a sore foot and Friday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves for personal reasons.

Asked if he knew when the 39-year-old James would be back with the team, Redick said, “No.”

A 97-87 loss at the Target Center in Minnesota was the Lakers’ eighth loss in 11 games, while the Timberwolves claimed a fifth win in six games thanks to 23 points from Anthony Edwards and 21 from Julius Randle.

Anthony Davis finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday (02:30 GMT, Monday).

Joel Embiid was replaced with a facial injury in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 121-107 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.

The 2022-23 Most Valuable Player played just his sixth game of the season after missing the start of the campaign with a knee injury and serving a ban for an altercation with a reporter in the dressing room.

He was accidentally hit near the cheekbone when the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin jumped for a rebound in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center.

Embiid received treatment on the court and did not return.

76ers coach Nick Nurse said after the game that he was being evaluated.