Lakers' LeBron James out against Thunder

James joins several other Lakers stars on the sidelines as the team manages injuries before the playoffs.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a basketball game, with overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the players and action on the court.The Lakers' injury-depleted roster faces a tough test against the Thunder as they try to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings.Los Angeles Today

LeBron James will not play in the Lakers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night due to a sore left foot. James joins Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart as unavailable for the Lakers, who are managing injuries before the regular season ends on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Lakers are currently the fourth seed in the Western Conference, but a loss to the Thunder could drop them a full game behind the Denver Nuggets. With several key players out, the Lakers' offense will be severely limited, making an upset loss to the Thunder a real possibility.

The details

James has been playing through left foot discomfort throughout the regular season. He played 39 minutes in the Lakers' last game on Sunday, just one minute fewer than swingman Jarred Vanderbilt. With Doncic, Reaves, and Smart also out, much of the Lakers' offensive production will be missing against the Thunder.

  • The Lakers play the Thunder on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Lakers will play the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and the Phoenix Suns on Friday, April 10, 2026, before concluding the regular season against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A 38-year-old forward and one of the Lakers' star players, who is sitting out Tuesday's game due to a sore left foot.

Luka Doncic

A Lakers player who is also unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Thunder.

Austin Reaves

A Lakers player who is also unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Thunder.

Marcus Smart

A Lakers player who is also unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Thunder.

Jarred Vanderbilt

A Lakers swingman who played 39 minutes in the team's last game on Sunday.

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What’s next

The Lakers will play the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and the Phoenix Suns on Friday, April 10, 2026, before concluding the regular season against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

The Lakers' injury woes continue to mount as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. With several key players out, including LeBron James, the team will need to find a way to win without its full complement of stars in order to maintain its position in the Western Conference standings.