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LeBron James Injury Update: December 13 vs. Timberwolves

LeBron James Injury Update: December 13 vs. Timberwolves

NBA News Rail

Updated:

By: Alex Hunter

UPDATE: James has been ruled out while Austin Reaves (pelvis) is questionable.

LeBron James missed Sunday’s win over the Trail Blazers with a sore foot and the veteran is “unlikely” to play Friday vs. the Timberwolves, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. James is averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds with a 29.8% usage rate in his 22nd season and, with him sidelined, the Lakers should continue to run through Anthony Davis.

With James missing his first game of the season this past Sunday, Davis dominated Portland for a 31-point and 11-rebound double-double (60.75 FPTS). With James off the court this season, Davis’ usage rate has risen 5.8 percentage points to a massive 37.1% and he is averaging 32.3 points per 36 minutes.

Despite coming off the bench, D’Angelo Russell also flourished with James sidelined vs. the Trail Blazers, scoring a season-high 28 points, to go along with 14 assists in 33.5 minutes (60.25 FPTS). Russell’s assist rate increases 12.2 percentage points to 38% with James off the floor in 2024-25.

While the Lakers are in a tough spot Friday against a Minnesota defense that ranks seventh in efficiency this season, both Davis and Russell will be appealing DFS options with James unavailable, and also compelling targets for overs on their player props on the DraftKings Sportsbook.

As a team, Los Angeles is 7-5 with James inactive the last two seasons. Rightfully so, they are a seven-point underdog vs. the Timberwolves.

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.