LeBron James sits against Milwaukee and Cooper Flagg misses the Mavericks' home opener

LeBron James will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, the team announced, as he manages low back pain and sciatica. Across the league, the Dallas Mavericks ruled out Cooper Flagg for their home opener against San Antonio after an MRI on Saturday morning showed a mild left shoulder sprain, according to ESPN.

Bucks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV

It is the first game James has missed this season, and it opens Philadelphia's first back-to-back. The Sixers host Detroit on Sunday. James, 41, missed the first 14 games of last season with sciatica. Through two games he is averaging 15.5 points and leads the team with 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, per ESPN.

Coach Nick Nurse was not ready to name a starter in James' place before the game, with Dean Wade still questionable. Nurse said the Sixers will have to make up for James in transition, on the boards, as a passer and in organizing the offense, PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson reported.

Philadelphia is 2-0 after the 29-point comeback against Cleveland in its home opener, and Tyrese Maxey is scoring 30 points a game. Milwaukee is 0-2 after losing 132-125 to Chicago on Friday. Jaylen Brown turned 30 on Saturday.

Spurs at Mavericks, 8 p.m. ET

Flagg got hurt late in the second quarter of Friday's 121-105 win at Indiana when Aaron Nesmith fouled him from behind on a breakaway. The foul was ruled flagrant, and Flagg did not return. He will be reevaluated next week. The reigning Rookie of the Year scored 32 points in Wednesday's opener against Houston, the most ever by a teenager in a season opener, ESPN said.

San Antonio is 0-2 after Friday's 114-110 loss to the Rockets in Austin and is a 14.5-point favorite in ESPN's odds feed. ESPN's injury report lists Kyrie Irving as day-to-day with a knee issue.

Rockets at Hawks, 8:30 p.m. ET

Two 2-0 teams meet in Atlanta's home opener. The Hawks beat Charlotte 128-81 on Friday, the largest win in franchise history. Houston won in Austin on Amen Thompson's block of Victor Wembanyama in the final second. The Rockets list Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams as out, with Marcus Smart and Reed Sheppard day-to-day.

Golden State, 0-2, finishes a back-to-back at Phoenix at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

What to watch: who starts for James and whether Philadelphia's offense holds together without him, how Dallas replaces Flagg's scoring with Irving listed, and whether Atlanta's defense can slow Alperen Sengun. Beat Chuck will have recaps of the late games overnight.