Overview
- - The Lakers announced James will miss Friday's game against Indiana with a left elbow contusion following Thursday's 120-113 loss in Denver.
- - The injury occurred after contact on a layup try with Nikola Jokić; no foul was called, and James later blasted officials' repeated 'marginal' explanation.
- - James briefly returned before exiting again, then iced the elbow as trainer Mike Mancias applied a compression sleeve for the flight back to Los Angeles.
- - Deandre Ayton left after about four minutes with left knee soreness and is out for the Pacers game, tightening rotation options.
- - James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history earlier in the game as Los Angeles opened a critical five-game homestand.