Lakers rule out both LeBron James, Anthony Davis vs. Celtics

Lakers rule out both LeBron James, Anthony Davis vs. Celtics،

Dave McMenamin, ESPN editorFebruary 1, 2024, 8:10 p.m.
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- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009 to 2014, the Cavaliers from 2014 to 2018 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005 to 2009.

BOSTON — The shell-shocked Los Angeles Lakers will be without LeBron James and Anthony Davis when they take on the NBA's No. 1 team, the Boston Celtics, on Thursday.

The Lakers downgraded both players from questionable to out about five hours before the announcement. James is dealing with left ankle soreness and Davis is on the injury report with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy and left hip spasms, which caused him to miss the Lakers' 138-122 loss to the Hawks from Atlanta on Tuesday.

James and Davis participated in the penalty shootout on Thursday hoping to improve as the day went on, team sources told ESPN.

Davis said, “I feel a little better,” when asked about his hip after the shooting.

With the difficulty of playing three games in four nights in his 21st season, including 48 minutes against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the decision was made to rest James.

This is the first game this season where the Lakers will play without James and Davis.

The Lakers are 1-2 on their current six-game road trip. The Celtics have the best home record in the league at 22-2.