(Orlando) Lakers superstar LeBron James, injured in the groin, will not play Thursday night against Houston in the NBA regular season game in the Disney World bubble, his team announced.

James, 35, was on the flank for a long time last season with pain there, which also caused him to miss a game in the current year in December.

His package for the duel against the Rockets is not problematic for the Lakers, already assured of being the No. 1 seed in the West, during the playoffs due to start on August 17, and whose remaining games of the season regular do not present any particular issue.

The substitute back Alex Caruso, embarrassed by pain in the neck, is uncertain. Team other star Anthony Davis (ankle), along with Markieff Morris (hip), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ribs) and Dwight Howard (knee) should be up and running despite some pain.

Side Rockets, uncertainty hangs around Russell Westbrook, embarrassed by a pain in a quadriceps.  

Houston, 6 ^th in the West, “will not take any risks” with his star, his coach Mike D'Antoni told the media, who is still waiting to see how his player will feel just before the game.  

"He thinks it's not much, but we have to be sure that he is 100% to play," he concluded.