
Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder got all the smoke as well.
Embiid exploded for 30 points in the first half alone before eventually finishing with 18 rebounds and two assists. Los Angeles has lost six of nine overall after its offense managed just six field goals in the fourth quarter, along with the Lakers' usual terrible free-throw shooting.
Steven Adams had 14 points and 15 rebounds, eight on the offensive end, and Jerami Grant scored 13 for the Thunder, who have won three of four.
"I thought I handled it better tonight", George said after the Thunder's 107-100 win over the Lakers on Wednesday, "given I've been in that situation before in Indy now". Kuzma did not return.
James started the game on the bench, but he ended up alongside Lakers brass Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka for the last part of the fourth quarter.
James suffered the injury in the Lakers' Christmas Day blowout win over the Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles' Brandon Ingram had 17 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
Looking at the betting trends, the Thunder are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a win of more than 10 points and 1-4 ATS in their last five road games against a team with a winning home record.
And if the Lakers fans insisted they didn't need the Thunder star, they at least got a taste of what they've been missing.
Things had not been going well for George overall in the first quarter.
Oklahoma City came out dead flat in the third quarter, shooting a horrid 21.7 percent from the field to fall behind 78-82 entering the fourth quarter. It's no secret that Los Angeles, back in action on Friday against the New York Knicks (10:30 p.m. ET - watch on fuboTV with the NBA League Pass extension), wants to acquire another superstar, but this photo is a great encapsulation of what everyone has been clowning James' teams for for years.