of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game four of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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After leaving the L.A. Lakers’ 111-101 loss to the Boston Celtics Saturday night with a groin injury, LeBron James could be out for a “matter of weeks,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
James, 40, missed 17 games with a groin strain during the 2018-19 season.
“This is a big MRI that we’ll get,” ESPN analyst and former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers said on air. “They clearly need him and they’ve been playing their best basketball of the year. But if it’s a week, that’s a huge difference than if this is a 3-4 week thing. These groin things ….you cannot come back early from them. You cannot rush back, no matter what the record says, no matter what the seedings are, he has to get healthy because you can’t risk him getting injured again and missing the playoffs.”
James had been playing splendid basketball at the age of 40 while averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds as the Lakers (40-22) moved to the No. 2 position in the Western Conference.
They are now No. 3 behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets following the Celtics loss.
If the playoffs began today, the Lakers would face Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
The playoffs begin April 19.