LeBron James (illness) misses shoot around, intends to play

Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel told reporters that LeBron James stayed home from shootaround but intends to play.

LeBron James has a cold. The King was not a participant in the Los Angeles Lakers shootaround on Tuesday morning but still intends to play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks, according to SB Nation’s Harrison Faigen.

James has missed only one game so far this season, back on Dec. 23 against the Denver Nuggets, a 24-point defeat. He dealt with a variety of nagging injuries after a collision with Patrick Beverley on Christmas Day and a fall a few days later in Portland on his right elbow. But he has been playing while managing those injuries.

Even if James plays tonight, the Lakers still have a lot of room for growth when LeBron sits. So far this season, the Lakers are getting outscored by 5.2 points per 100 possessions when James is on the bench, according to NBA.com.

Another reason that the Lakers are probably being cautious with James is they are heading out on the road for a two-game road trip in Dallas and Oklahoma City.

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