LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has begun his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, starting for the Los Angeles Lakers against Utah on Tuesday night.

The 40-year-old James had 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, returned to contact basketball activity last week before participating in his first Lakers practice of the new season Monday.

About 30 minutes before tipoff, the team confirmed James would start for the 1,561st time in his 1,563rd regular-season games. He got a loud ovation when he was announced first in the Lakers’ starting lineup.

He made a poor inbounds pass for a turnover in the opening minute and missed his only

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