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Los Angeles Lakers PG/SF LeBron James has been ruled out for Thursday’s game vs. the Golden State Warriors due to a groin injury. PF/C Anthony Davis is being listed as probable again with a sore left elbow. James is coming off a 40-point performance vs. the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Staples Center. AD has been listed as probable for what feels like the entire season.
LeBron James (sore groin) is out for tomorrow's game at Golden State.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 26, 2020
Anthony Davis (sore left elbow) is probable.
My guess is that LeBron is just taking the game off for rest, but obviously the groin has been something he’s been dealing with a bit this season. Davis has had a shoulder injury and is probably going to the locker room as I type this. With LeBron out, AD is going to be a very popular play in DFS on DraftKings for Thursday’s short four-game slate. Even with LeBron sidelined, I don’t think this impacts the way we should approach betting this game. The Lakers are still a much better team and Stephen Curry isn’t expected to be back for the Dubs until Sunday.
This will be the second game LeBron has missed all season. He’s been incredibly durable for most of 2019-20 and that’s a big reason why the Lakers are in first place in the Western Conference at 44-12. We could see Kyle Kuzma or Markieff Morris end up starting in place of LeBron at the 3. We also may see Jared Dudley active off the bench and getting some minutes. Earlier in the year with LeBron out, Dudley was the guy to step into the starting lineup. Obviously that was before the addition of Morris.