CNN
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LeBron James continues to endure one of the worst shooting slumps of his career as the Los Angeles Lakers were easily beaten 109-80 by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

The 39-year-old shot 0 of 4 from three-point range against the Timberwolves and extended his streak of missed shots from distance to 0 of 19 over the last four games, his worst streak since his rookie season.

James’ average points per game of 22 so far this season is also his lowest since his rookie season.

However, the four-time NBA champion just about maintained his long-standing, league-record streak of double-digit scoring, extending it to 1,243 games while posting 10 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists.

James, who turns 40 later this month, said before the season that his goal was to play in all 82 games. After the loss to the Tiumberwolves, he said it was still “a goal” but something he’s “not talking about right now.”

“I don’t know that it’s in his best interest and our best interest for him to do that,” Lakers head coach JJ Reddick said of James’ goal in 82 games, according to ESPN. “But if he is well and feels good then he should play.

“But of course we want to do it in the best possible way.”

The Lakers have now lost five of their last seven games and have slipped to eighth place in the Western Conference, with Reddick calling his team’s performance “uneven and inconsistent.”

The 80 points scored against Minnesota are also the Lakers’ lowest in a game since the 73-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in January 2017, according to ESPN.

Julius Randle scored a team-high 18 points for Minnesota, with Rudy Gobert adding 17 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid adding 15 each.

Minnesota has now won two straight games after snapping a four-game losing streak, with last season’s Western Conference finalists struggling in 11th place.

D’Angelo Russell scored a game-high 20 points for the Lakers.

The Lakers’ road trip continues on Wednesday with a visit to the Miami Heat, while the Timberwolves travel to play the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jaylen Brown returned from illness to lead the Boston Celtics to a 108-89 victory over the Miami Heat.

Brown, who missed Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, scored a game-high 29 points with seven rebounds and four assists, with Payton Pritchard adding 25 points off the bench, including five three-pointers.

According to the Associated Press, Pritchard is the first Celtics player since Isaiah Thomas in 2015 to score at least 20 bench points in four consecutive games.

Both teams were shorthanded on Monday, with the Celtics missing Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Sam Hauser, while the Heat were without star forward Jimmy Butler, who continues to be bothered by a knee injury.

The Celtics have won eight of their last nine games and are ranked No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, while the Heat have now lost two in a row and are currently seeded No. 7.

Away at home (winners in bold)

Los Angeles Lakers 80-109 Minnesota Timberwolves

Miami Heat 89-108 Boston Celtics

New Orleans Pelicans 112-124 Atlanta Hawks

Brooklyn Nets 102-128 Chicago Bulls