The Los Angeles Lakers are hopeful to get Rajon Rondo back Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but LeBron James has already been ruled out. It marks a 15th in a row missed and extends what’s the already longest streak in his career of consecutive games not played in.
The Lakers have struggled without two of their leaders, going 5-9 in the stretch that also saw Kyle Kuzma miss 2.5 games because of a lower back contusion. The slide began one game after the Lakers routed the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day.
After the win they remained in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and were on the heels of the Denver Nuggets for first.