LOS ANGELES — The will be without and two of their big men in and on Friday against the , the team announced.
James to the on Thursday after sustaining a left elbow contusion late in the fourth quarter when absorbing contact from and tumbling to the floor. James is also listed with left foot arthritis on the injury report.
Ayton is out with left knee soreness. He played the first four and a half minutes Thursday before exiting the game because of his left knee and did not return.
Kleber will miss his third straight game with a lumbar back strain, the team announced.
Without Kleber and Ayton for most of Thursday, Lakers backup center shined with 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting and five rebounds against the Nuggets.
Indiana (15-47) has the worst record in the Eastern Conference and has lost seven straight games coming into Friday.
