Heavyweights out: Giannis, LeBron not playing
Jalen Rose shares his thoughts on Clyde Frazier’s harsh criticism of LeBron James, agreeing that his absence from the huddle sent a bad message. (1:34)
MVP front-runner Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will both miss Tuesday night’s matchup because of injuries, the teams announced Tuesday.
Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.5 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for the Eastern Conference-leading Bucks, was ruled out with a sprained right ankle.
James will sit out Tuesday’s game with a sore left groin. He missed over a month earlier this season because of a strain to the same groin muscle.
Antetokounmpo turned his ankle and crumpled to the ground after colliding with Joel Embiid during Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He stayed on the ground for nearly a minute, clutching his right ankle before getting back on his feet.
He finished the game with a career-high 52 points, but he left the arena with a protective sleeve on the ankle underneath his sock.
James is averaging 27.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists this season. He had 33 points in Sunday’s 124-123 loss to the Knicks in which he had his worst shooting quarter as a pro.
Lakers coach Luke Walton said he has not had any discussions with James about shutting down the four-time MVP for the remainder of the season. Sitting out Tuesday will give James three days’ rest before the Lakers’ next game Friday at home against the Brooklyn Nets.
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“We’re a much better team when he’s on the floor,” Walton said. “So I’m looking forward to him getting back out there again.”
With 12 games to play, the Lakers trail the LA Clippers by 9.5 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, meaning James’ personal streaks of 13 straight postseason appearances and eight straight NBA Finals berths are all but finished.
Mike Muscala will start in James’ place against the Bucks.
The Bucks also will be without Donte DiVincenzo (heel), Pau Gasol and Sterling Brown (wrist) for Tuesday’s game.
ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.