Blog: LeBron James to miss Los Angeles Lakers’ rematch vs. Cleveland Cavaliers due to injury – WKYC.com

In November, LeBron James faced the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time since leaving the franchise in free agency.

His next matchup against his former team will have to wait until next season.

On Thursday, James’ current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, provided an update on the 4-time MVP who has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury on Christmas Day. And while James has progressed to the point that he’s been cleared to “increase on-court functional basketball movements,” he’ll miss at least the Lakers’ next three games before the team provides its next update on Jan. 16.

That will keep James out of Sunday’s matchup with the Cavs, which will mark the first and only time the Lakers host Cleveland this season. In November, the 14-time All-Star made his return to Quicken Loans Arena, scoring 32 points in a 109-105 Los Angeles victory over the Cavs.

In the time since, James’ current and former teams have trended in opposite directions.

Even with James having missed the past eight games, the Lakers currently find themselves hanging on to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 23-19 record. After initially losing five of its first six games without James, Los Angeles has won two straight heading into Friday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile, at 8-34, Cleveland lays claim to the worst record in the NBA and is currently in the midst of an 11-game losing streak. On Wednesday, the Cavs began what will be an 8-game road trip to the West Coast with a 140-124 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

“Anytime you have a group of guys who you spend so much time with both on and off the floor, with them going through what they’re going through right now, you definitely feel for that,” James said of his former teammates after his first matchup against the Cavs.

“There’s champions over there. Guys who have been to the Finals. A lot of guys who have worked their tails off to get where they are in their careers. You never want to see your friends be in the situation they’re in.”