LeBron James is sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers’ meeting with Milwaukee due to his injured left ankle.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo left late in the first quarter of the Bucks’ game against the Miami Heat after the Bucks said he knocked knees with an opponent.

The U.S. men’s basketball team is finally together.

The happiest basketball coach in the world right now should be Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer.

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2020 file photo, Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry, left, and Bucks guard George Hill walk through a Milwaukee neighborhood during a voter canvassing effort. Lasry received the COVID-19 vaccine this week at a senior living center in Milwaukee. Alex Lasry told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a story published Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, that he "just got lucky" and didn't receive any favoritism. (AP Photo/Steve Megargee File)

And in Phoenix, the Suns and Toronto Raptors stood in a circle and linked arms for the American and Canadian anthems. “It’s an embarrassing and shameful day in our country,” New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy said. Wednesday's events came one day after the decision to not to bring charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year was announced. The NBA had a rule for decades that players and coaches must stand for the national anthem. The Bucks said after the game they held the ball for 7 seconds to reflect the seven times Blake was shot.

Then came LeBron James and the Lakers, clanging 3-pointers off the rim to provide a steady sound in a mostly empty gym. Milwaukee and Los Angeles lost their playoff openers, the first time both conference No. James had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists, the first 20-15-15 game in NBA playoff history. The Lakers' Danny Green was on that team, so he wasn't concerned about what either top-seeded squad faces now. Theyre the top-seeded team for a reason, were the top-seeded team for a reason.