LOS ANGELES — Lakers star LeBron James missed Sunday night’s home game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves because of flu-like symptoms, the team announced a few hours before tipoff.
James entered the matchup as questionable because of left ankle peroneal tendinopathy before being ruled out because of the illness.
“He came to start his process [Sunday] and I think he left early,” coach Darvin Ham said. “He just wasn’t feeling well.”
Spencer Dinwiddie started in place of James alongside D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis.
Sunday was the second of a back-to-back set, with the Lakers beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-97 on Saturday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena.
James had 24 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes against the Cavaliers.
Ham assured that James, who was available for both games of the Lakers’ last back-to-back set – road wins over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday and Washington Wizards on Wednesday – didn’t miss the game because of any lingering injury.
“It was more viral, stomach virus, as opposed to an injury to his body,” Ham said. “So, nah, I don’t think that played anything into it.”
The Lakers entered Sunday 6-4 in games James hasn’t played – the first time a team James has played on has had a .500-or-better record in games he doesn’t play since the 2012-13 Miami Heat.
“Everybody knows what they’re capable of,” Ham said of the team’s success without James. “And we encourage that from all of our guys. And when Bron is out of the lineup, obviously, we know we’re much better with him than without him. But I think we’ve been able to have success just because guys just stepping up and trying to be even more team-oriented in terms of getting the responsibilities that are out there done effectively.
“Not individually. ‘Well, I’m gonna get all of his shots.’ Having that type of mentality. They spread the wealth on both sides of the ball and cover for one another defensively. It speaks to the talent level of our team as well. Obviously, there’s a drop-off without him. But other guys step up. We have guys more than capable of holding their water.”
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent wasn’t available against the Timberwolves because of left knee injury management.
He returned from left knee surgery in the March 31 road win over the Brooklyn Nets, not playing both games of a back-to-back set since returning. Vincent played 14 minutes against the Cavaliers on Saturday.
REAVES’ ASSIGNMENT
Reaves again was tasked with guarding a top scoring option, matched up against All-Star guard Anthony Edwards on Sunday.
He’s been their primary point-of-attack defender for the past two months.
Despite his physical limitations, he’s thrived in the role.
“Whether you’re tall, short, heavy-set, skinny, it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re a competitor, you can make things work,” Ham said. “And he prides himself on being a two-way player. Just not all offense. He competes. Some of the plays he make, just covering for his teammates on the ball. His scrappiness. Taking charges. Whatever it involves, he’s competing at a high level.
“That has a lot to do with it. When guys see their teammates competing like that, fighting, trying, maybe they don’t look the part but he’s getting the results because he’s a high-level competitor. And so that tends to rub off. Both he and Rui have drawn some incredibly tough matchups. But they don’t moan, they don’t complain. They just go out there and compete.”
