The biggest question surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers after Thursday night’s loss is simple: Will LeBron James play the next game?
For now, the answer appears uncertain.
James said he is day-to-day after suffering a painful left elbow injury during the Lakers’ 120–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets, leaving his availability for the team’s next game against the Indiana Pacers unclear.
“We’ll see what happens over the next couple of days,” James said after the game. “Hopefully, I’ll wake up [Friday] and it doesn’t feel too much worse than it is now. Or, if it feels better, that would be great. So, it’s day-to-day, we’ll see what happens.”
LeBron James Leaves Game After Elbow Injury
The injury occurred in the fourth quarter after James scored over Denver star Nikola Jokić and fell to the floor during the play.
James immediately grabbed his left elbow and stayed down briefly before eventually heading to the bench with 3:58 remaining.
He attempted to return later in the quarter with 2:05 left and the Lakers trailing by one point but exited again with 22 seconds remaining after Denver extended its lead.
James later spoke to reporters while sitting at his locker with his elbow wrapped in ice.
“It’s pretty sore right now,” James said. “It felt like one of those funny bone situations, but like, super more intense.”
Frustration With Officiating After Injury Play
The Lakers star appeared just as frustrated with the officiating as he was with the injury itself.
James believed contact from Jokić could have resulted in a foul call, but officials ruled the play incidental.
“That’s all [the referees] keep saying, ‘marginal.’ I’m so … tired of that word,” James said. “It doesn’t make no sense.”
When asked whether referees provided further clarification on the non-call, James repeated his frustration.
“It’s the same [expletive],” he said. “‘Marginal.’ It’s the same [expletive].”
LeBron Breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Record
Despite the injury scare, the night also included another historic moment for James.
Early in the game, the Lakers superstar passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals in NBA history.
James reached 15,838 career field goals with a turnaround jumper in the first quarter, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 15,837.
“My name being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and pretty cool,” James said. “It’s a pretty cool thing. I grew up watching and reading, idolizing a lot of the greats.”
Lakers Star Still Impacted Game
James finished with 16 points, eight assists, three steals and one block while shooting 7-of-11 from the field.
Even as Denver jumped out to a 16–3 lead, the four-time NBA champion helped keep the Lakers competitive with his playmaking and defense.
However, the Nuggets ultimately closed out the game to snap the Lakers’ three-game winning streak.
Lakers Monitoring LeBron James’ Injury
Following the game, James immediately received treatment.
His longtime athletic trainer, Mike Mancias, placed a compression sleeve on his left arm for the Lakers’ flight back to Los Angeles while the elbow remained iced, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
For the Lakers, the priority now is simple: monitor the injury and determine how James responds over the next 24–48 hours.
James made clear the situation remains fluid.
For now, the day-to-day status of the Lakers’ franchise leader is the biggest storyline as Los Angeles prepares for its next game.
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