Lakers to Reportedly Limit LeBron James' Minutes LeBron went from 'playoff mode' to 'minutes restriction.' James will play 28-32 minutes per game for the rest of this season, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. The Lakers forward will also be rested in back-to-back games. After their loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 6, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to 30-35, six games behind the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. James has appeared in 13 consecutive postseasons, including the past eight NBA Finals. James suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day in a matchup with the Golden State Warriors. It caused him to miss 17 games, the longest injury stretch of his career.