Lakers vs. Spurs Wednesday NBA injury report, odds, props: Small spread hints that LeBron James, Anthony Davis could sit in second game of back-to-back

For the most part, stars around the NBA this season have been playing both ends of back-to-backs if fully healthy amid the league cracking down on excessive load management. But there's a very realistic chance that the Los Angeles Lakers will sit either LeBron James or Anthony Davis --if not both -- Wednesday night in the second game of a back-to-back at the Spurs. That San Antonio is only +1.5 on the SportsLine consensus tells you the books expect a key Laker or two to sit.

Tuesday night's game in Dallas felt a like a letdown game for the Lakers after their run to the NBA In-Season Tournament title on Saturday night in Las Vegas, and indeed the Lakers did lose to the Mavericks 127-125. L.A. coach Darvin Ham surely didn't want to feed James and Davis heavy minutes but had to with the game coming down to the wire.

James was great with 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds but played a season-high-tying 40 minutes at age 39. I personally will be shocked if James, who is listed on the injury report for every game, suits up. Los Angeles is 1-0 without James this season, beating visiting Portland 116-110 on Nov. 12. He was dealing with a bruised left calf.

Davis is dealing with a left hip/groin injury and told reporters after Tuesday that he not only did he tweak it Saturday, but that it flared up in Dallas as well. He also played well in the loss, shooting 15-for-21 from the field for 37 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks. L.A. is 0-1 without Davis this season, losing 128-94 in Houston on Nov. 8. James and Davis haven't both missed a game yet.

Ham said after Tuesday's game that the team will "play it by ear" when it comes to the availability of James, Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt for the second night of the back-to-back. Vanderbilt sat with a back issue. Normally, we would have a Lakers injury report by now, but they aren't obligated to release one early after playing the night before.

No one of note is out for the Spurs, who have the worst record in the West at 3-19 and have lost a franchise-record 17 games in a row, which is only the second-longest active streak in the league behind Detroit's 20-game skid. Rookie No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama has been good this season and already has three games with at least five blocks, the most by a Spur in any season since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015-16. But Wembanyama is now the +105 second favorite for Rookie of the Year behind Oklahoma City 7-footer Chet Holmgren (-145).

On the DraftKings rebounds market for tonight's NBA action, no player is taking more money than Wembanyama Over 11.5 boards (-160). He averages 10.6 per game, but if the Lakers are without Davis and James, there should be plenty more rebounding opportunities. 

Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Lakers have won four straight in the series. 

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