LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is in the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup against Utah on Tuesday night to begin his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

The 40-year-old James has been sidelined since the start of training camp by sciatica , keeping him out of the preseason and the Lakers' first 14 games of the regular season. James, who had never before missed a season opener in his basketball life, returned to contact basketball activity last week before participating in his first Lakers practice of the new season Monday.

While James went through his pregame workout one hour before tipoff, the Lakers confirmed he was available to play when they hosted the Jazz at their downtown arena. About 30 minutes before tip, the team confirmed James would start for the 1,561st time in his 1,56

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