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[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series on Wednesday night—but even a win might not have saved their playoff run.
LeBron James sustained a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee during the loss, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The injury would have sidelined him for a potential Game 7 and raised serious doubts about his availability for the next round had the Lakers advanced.
James suffered the injury with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter after colliding knees with Donte DiVincenzo. He briefly exited the game but returned, though he struggled from that point on—scoring just 5 points on 2-of-7 shooting in the final quarter as the Lakers were outscored 22-16. The severity of the injury adds important context to his late-game performance.
Even if they had survived Game 6, losing James for up to a month would have been a major blow for the Lakers. The 40-year-old has never missed a playoff game in his career—292 straight appearances—but this injury would have ended that remarkable streak.
The situation could also reignite criticism of head coach JJ Redick’s decision-making late in Game 4, a move some already viewed as risky.
James is expected to have plenty of time to recover ahead of the 2025-26 season, assuming he returns as anticipated. Still, the Lakers’ continued reliance on him at this stage of his career makes it even more crucial for the front office to upgrade the roster this offseason.