LeBron James Ruled Out for Philadelphia Ahead of Milwaukee Clash

LeBron James has been ruled out of the Philadelphia 76ers' clash against the Milwaukee Bucks due to lower back soreness, the NBA franchise announced. James will sit out the first game of the Sixers' back-to-back set this weekend, with the team facing Detroit on Sunday night.

The 41-year-old James has averaged 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds across his first two games of the new season. Philadelphia is off to a 2-0 start following victories over NBA champions the New York Knicks and Eastern Conference finalists the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic will be without star player Paolo Banchero for what is almost certain to be several weeks after medical evaluations confirmed a mild right ankle sprain suffered in their defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Magic confirmed the news a day after Banchero picked up the injury during the first half of their 115-93 loss to Minnesota. Speaking to "The Orlando Sentinel" after the game, he revealed he had begun feeling discomfort as early as the first quarter.

Banchero had enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign, leading the team with averages of 24.5 points and 7.5 assists per game, alongside 6.5 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 70% from the field.

Selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero holds career averages of 22.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for Orlando.