The Los Angeles Lakers say LeBron James faces another week on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.

James has been missing since picking up the injury in the win over champions Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers are 3-5 since the three-time champion picked up the problem but they have won their last two games, beating Dallas Mavericks on the road before seeing off Detroit Pistons at home.

The team say they will provide another update on January 16, which suggests James will miss the trip to Utah on Friday and the upcoming games against his former team Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls.

“The healing of James’ groin injury is progressing and James has been cleared to increase on-court functional basketball movements,” the Lakers said in a statement.

“A further update will be provided on January 16.” Lakers coach Luke Walton has called on the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball to step up in James’ absence.

They struggled to make any kind of impact without James on court but Kuzma did weigh in with a 41-point haul in the win over the Pistons and Ball managed 11 assists.

The Lakers are 13.00 to win the Western Conference outright and 23.00 to win the Championship.

Golden State remain the 1.60 Championship favourites, with Eastern Conference hopefuls Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics available at 8.00 and 10.00 respectively.