Lakers vs. Kings NBA injury report, odds, spread: LeBron James to miss first game of season Wednesday; Tyrese Haliburton out, Kyle Kuzma in question

The Lakers were supposed to take it easy on LeBron James this season in terms of resting him occasionally, but the MVP favorite hadn't missed a game all year. That will change Wednesday night in Sacramento as the Lakers are giving James the night off in the second of a back-to-back and ahead of the All-Star break. Needless to say, that news goosed the spread a fair amount as Sacramento is currently a 4-point favorite on the William Hill Sportsbook NBA odds but will be without excellent rookie Tyrese Haliburton. L.A. also could be sans Kyle Kuzma.

Of course, the Lakers have been without All-Star Anthony Davis for weeks and he may not be ready to return after the All-Star break. Kuzma, who generally has been starting for Davis, missed Tuesday's game, a 114-104 home loss to the Suns, with a heel injury and is questionable here. LeBron had 38 points, six assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes in the loss, which is WAY more minutes than the Lakers want him playing.

However, LeBron has been playing heavy minutes regularly since Davis went out. James is averaging 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists at age 36 and didn't even travel with the team to Sacramento. He will pick his All-Star team on Thursday night. L.A. also was without Marc Gasol on Tuesday in the health and safety protocols so he is presumably out again.

Sacramento lost for the 10th time in 11 games Sunday, 127-126 to a very short-handed Charlotte team, and it was so egregious that it's a minor miracle coach Luke Walton still is employed.

The Kings led by eight with about 55 seconds left but then couldn't make a free throw or a stop on defense. Haliburton, a distant second betting favorite for Rookie of the Year behind the Hornets' LaMelo Ball, was out with a sore right calf and will not play here or Thursday in Portland. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 draft is averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 assists.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Lakers and Kings. Los Angeles is 4-0 against the spread in its past four as the road team in the series. 

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