LeBron not with team

MILWAUKEE (AP) — LeBron James flew back to California for treatment on his left groin strain and will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game trip, which concludes Friday at Denver.

James missed his second straight game due to the injury Thursday as the Lakers played at Milwaukee.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game that Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) and Jaxson Hayes (right knee bruise) also had gone back to California. Redick said all three players would be day to day once the rest of the team returns to California to begin a five-game homestand Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.

“Frankly, they’re better served without the travel and rehabbing back in LA,” Redick said.

James, 40, is averaging 25 points, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds.

Ryan Graves scores 1st goal of season

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Graves scored 2:17 into the game and the Pittsburgh Penguins never trailed Thursday night in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues.

Graves’ goal was his first of the season, and Conor Timmins flicked a shot over the stick-side shoulder of goaltender Jordan Binnington to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead almost 2 1/2 minutes into the second period.

Zack Bolduc scored a power-play goal with 8:25 left in the second period to cut the St. Louis deficit to 2-1.

Connor Dewar redirected a pass from Blake Lizotte into the net with 2:18 left in the second to make it 3-1. Timmins and Dewar were acquired last week in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dylan Holloway added another power-play goal for St. Louis less than 90 seconds into the third period, Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust answered about six minutes later and Alexey Toropchenko’s goal for St. Louis made it 4-3 with about 11 minutes remaining.

Rickard Rakell added and empty-netter in the closing seconds.

Akron advances in MAC tourney

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bowen Hardman led top-seeded Akron over No. 8 seed Bowling Green on Thursday with 17 points off of the bench in a 96-67 victory in the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Hardman went 6 of 9 from the field (4 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Zips (26-6). Seth Wilson scored 15 points, finishing 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

Shammah Scott shot 4 of 10 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line to finish with 14 points.

Marcus Johnson led the Falcons (14-18) in scoring, finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds. Jamai Felt added 12 points and six rebounds for Bowling Green. Javontae Campbell also had 10 points, four assists and four steals.

Akron led 42-30 at halftime, with Wilson racking up nine points. Akron pulled away with a 16-2 run in the second half to extend its lead to 36 points. Hardman led the way with a team-high 11 second-half points.