Pacific Notes: James, Beal, Vezenkov, Sabonis

The Lakers are listing LeBron James as doubtful for Tuesday’s road game against the Bucks because of soreness in his left ankle, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

James missed a game against Milwaukee on March 8 due to the same issue. The Lakers are currently ninth in the Western Conference as they head out on a six-game road swing. James played 38 minutes in the Lakers’ 150-145 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, supplying 26 points and 10 assists.

We have more from the Pacific Division:

  • Bradley Beal has to play third wheel in the Suns’ star-studded lineup and coach Frank Vogel praises the star wing for filling a different role than he had as the Wizards’ top scorer. “Brad’s really sacrificing for the betterment of this team,” Vogel said, per Gerald Bourguet of GoPhnx.com. Beal’s scoring average of 18.1 PPG is his lowest since the 2015/16 season.
  • The Kings’ Sasha Vezenkov was a European star but it wasn’t always smooth sailing when he played for Barcelona, he told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (hat tip to Sportando. Still, he wouldn’t rule out playing there again. “I had difficult years at Barcelona,” he said. “I think they didn’t treat me well, but not the people who lead the organization, with Juan Carlos Navarro I have a very good relationship and I learned a lot from him. I have friends in the organization, I never say no, but it’s like my time there was difficult for the team and for me. I can’t predict the future, but I have friends I respect a lot.” Injuries have limited Vezenkov to 35 games so far in his first NBA season.
  • The Kings’ Domantas Sabonis had his 53rd consecutive double-double on Saturday with 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, tying Kevin Love’s record for the longest single-season streak since the ABA-NBA merger, Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee notes. Sabonis broke that record in style on Monday by posting a triple-double in a win over Philadelphia. “That’s the thing about it, is it’s extremely difficult,” coach Mike Brown said over the weekend. “It’s unheard of. And I’ve been around great players, Hall of Fame players, that didn’t have a chance to get this record that Domas is chasing. But he works so hard and he is the definition of consistency. I can see why others who aren’t around him don’t really feel like it’s a big deal because he makes it look easy. It’s like normal for him.”
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