LeBron James to sit out Lakers' game at Pistons

Citing "load management," the team says James will sit the second leg of a road back-to-back.

LeBron James

After playing in 15 consecutive games, LeBron James will take a breather on Friday night. 

The Lakers said their star forward will not play against the Pistons due to "load management" with the groin injury that kept him out for a month earlier this season. 

The rest day comes a night after James played 31 minutes, 47 seconds in a loss at Toronto, the second of a five-game road trip. The Lakers have dramatically reduced James' minutes since he passed Michael Jordan for third on the all-time NBA scoring list March 6.

Injury Update from Detroit:
- LeBron James (load management, groin) is out.
- Josh Hart (right knee tendinitis) is questionable.
- Reggie Bullock (left foot contusion) and Lance Stephenson (left foot, second toe sprain) are probable.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 15, 2019

 

After playing at least 37 minutes in nine of 10 games prior to that milestone, James has topped out at 33:24 since. 

James hasn't missed a game since Feb. 2, but Los Angeles has gone just 4-11 in that span and sits 11th in the Western Conference at 31-37. 

Sitting Friday would seem to indicate James will be available Saturday at the Knicks and Tuesday at the Bucks to wrap up the road trip.