Lakers star LeBron James was sidelined for Sunday's home game against the Knicks , the second straight game he missed after sitting out of Friday's win over the Pacers .
The Lakers hoped James would be available against the Knicks, but he was ruled out a little over an hour before tipoff because of the bruised left elbow injury he suffered during Thursday's road loss to the Nuggets and left foot arthritis.
Lakers star LeBron James will not play Sunday against the Knicks. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have listed James on the injury report because of arthritis multiple times on the second night of back-to-backs since the 41-year-old, four-time MVP made his season debut in mid-November after he missed the first 14 games because of sciatica.
James was icing his left elbow during his postgame media availability at Ball Arena inside the visitor's locker room after falling onto the court after Nuggets star Nikola Jokic made contact with him in the air while James made a layup to cut the Lakers' deficit to 110-106 with just over four minutes left.
He wasn't on the court for the final 20 seconds of the game in the loss to the Nuggets.
"It felt like one of those funny bone situations," James said Thursday. "But like, super more intense."
Sunday was the first time James missed consecutive games since making his season debut.
He's averaging 21.4 points (50.4% shooting), seven assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in the 44 games he's played this season.
Rui Hachimura started against the Knicks in James' place.
Deandre Ayton was available and back in the starting lineup after sitting out of Friday's win over the Pacers and only playing a few minutes against the Nuggets before leaving the game with left knee soreness.
Backup big man Maxi Kleber was also available against the Knicks after sitting out the last couple of games with back ailments.
