LeBron James' hand injury dampens his NBA All-Star Game night: How can it impact LA Lakers? Latest updates on 38-year-old veteran

LeBron James got injured during the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and missed the second half of it. This was very unfortunate for basketball fans as they enjoyed watching the LA Lakers forward.

However, James suffered a hand injury while trying to block Pascal Siakam in the second quarter of the game. Not only did this drastically impact Team LeBron, who played much worse without him, but it will also impact the Lakers.

The Lakers are struggling to win games this season and are hoping to have a playoff push after the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, this may not be possible without James.

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LeBron James' hand injury will drastically impact the LA Lakers

Considering that the Lakers are currently 27-32, LeBron James' injury came at the worst possible time. Despite being 38, James is still the best player on the team and it's questionable if the Lakers can make the playoffs without him.

The Lakers are two games behind the OKC Thunder, who are in the 10th spot in the Western Conference. While their schedule is generally favorable, losing LeBron may be fatal.

James suffered a hand injury in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game (Image via Getty Images)

The Lakers have made a lot of great moves lately, but it may not matter if the 38-year-old forward doesn't return soon. With 23 games left on their schedule, the Lakers will need to get on a winning streak to have a chance to make the playoffs.

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The Lakers have the sixth easiest remaining schedule and will play against the Houston Rockets two more times. They have three more games left in February and will have a 5-game homestand in early March.

LeBron may be sidelined for a few games (Image via Getty Images)

The team may make the playoffs due to a favorable schedule. However, it's important to note that LeBron is one of the top scorers in the league with 30.0 points per game. Furthermore, Anthony Davis has also dealt with injuries, which is not ideal for a potential playoff push.

The Lakers will get more information regarding LeBron James' injury very soon and we will know how serious it is. If he misses more than three games, the playoff window may close on the team.

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LeBron in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game

Before leaving the 2023 NBA All-Star Game with a hand injury, LeBron James spent 14 minutes on the floor. He was the captain of his team and selected several amazing players, including Joel Embiid with the first pick.

The 19-time All-Star had several amazing highlights during his limited time on the floor.

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James scored 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting in the first half of the All-Star Game. He also added four assists and a rebound to his final stat line.