James Sits Saturday as Sciatica Returns

LeBron James will miss Philadelphia's game against Milwaukee on Saturday night, listed out with low back pain and sciatica management. It's his first missed game of the season.

The issue isn't new. The same condition kept him out for the first 14 games of last season, so the Sixers are clearly being deliberate about it this time around — catching it early rather than letting it linger. Saturday is the first of a back-to-back, which is the kind of spot where a team with a long view would sit a player managing this sort of thing anyway.

With James out, the forward depth behind him is thin. Justin Edwards and Dean Wade are next in line at the position. Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown figure to carry more of the offensive load Saturday night.