Lakers Face Trail Blazers Without Key Players in Key Matchup

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Lakers are set to improve their early season record to 3-1 as they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. This game comes after a thrilling 127-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

However, the Lakers will be without a staggering seven players due to injuries, including superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported this news on social media.

The absence of key players raises the stakes for the Lakers. Second-year guard Bronny James could see significant playing time as a result. He has only played in one game this season. After battling an ankle sprain last week, he is not listed on the injury report for Monday’s game.

Bronny James, 21, may finally get a chance to showcase his abilities. During his limited minutes last season, he averaged just 2.3 points per game. His standout performance came on March 20, 2025, when he scored a career-high 17 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The younger James was drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, at pick No. 55. His college career at USC was brief, averaging 4.8 points and leading to his current position on the Lakers.

As the Lakers gear up for the game, they are hoping for a successful outing despite the missing players. The team’s depth will be tested, and the contributions from Bronny could be crucial.

The matchup is set to begin at 7:00 PM PST, and fans will be watching closely to see how the Lakers adapt to this challenging situation.