LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was ruled out of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans because of left foot injury management.

James, 40, missed the first 14 games of the season with sciatica -- a nerve issue affecting his lower back and down the right side of his body. The four-time NBA MVP also missed games last season because of his left foot.

"It is an injury he's had in the past," Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game. "It's something we've had to manage in the past. Given the back-to-back and the fact that he's basically just coming off his training camp -- this has been his training camp over the last 10 days or so -- just being cautious."

Sunday is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Lakers, with a home game against the Phoenix Suns

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