The Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both absent from their team’s 126-113 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. While James continues to battle with left ankle soreness, Davis finds himself faced with non-Covid related illness.
James’ absence from the Raptors’ game is his seventh of the season, having missed two weeks in November due to a groin strain. He initially tweaked his ankle against the Indiana Pacers last week before aggravating the injury in games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.
“A lot of players that play at that elite level, a lot of times you just have to save them from themselves,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of his decision to rest James on Wednesday night.
Davis missed the defeat to the Raptors due to flu symptoms that resulted in his early exit from the Lakers’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. According to Ham, Davis felt dehydrated and too drained to continue playing, thereby leading to his second-quarter exit. He was administered fluids and medications after leaving the game.
The Lakers have two games left in their six-game road trip: they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday before going head-to-head with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
