SALT LAKE CITY — LeBron James sat out the game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday because of a left ankle injury, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.
James, 39, turned the ankle in the first half of Los Angeles’ 127-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. He stayed in the contest after the injury but logged just 24 minutes in all and scored a season-low 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting.
It is James’ fourth missed game this season.
Rui Hachimura, cleared to return after missing the past five games with a left calf strain, is playing in James’ place.
Headed into the game, the Lakers (19-20) and Jazz (20-20) had nearly identical records but had been heading in opposite directions. Los Angeles is 2-5 in its past seven games, while Utah has gone 7-1 in its past eight. The Jazz have won their past four games by an average of 18 points, including Friday’s 145-113 drubbing of the Toronto Raptors.
James is the only key contributor missing from Saturday’s rotation. D’Angelo Russell (right knee contusion) and Cam Reddish (left knee soreness), both listed as questionable, are playing for the Lakers.
