Lakers’ LeBron James says leg ‘sore’ after scary collision, downgraded to out Tuesday vs. Spurs

After two straight losses to start out the season, the Los Angeles Lakers lastly received their first win on Sunday, holding on down the stretch to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-118. The evening may have gone a lot in a different way, nevertheless, as LeBron James narrowly prevented a critical harm within the second quarter. 

In the course of the body, Desmond Bane went to the rim and Dwight Howard came visiting to try to block the shot. He made contact with Bane, who misplaced his steadiness and fell to the bottom, crashing into LeBron’s leg within the course of. The Lakers star instantly crumpled to the bottom, and a groan went out round Staples Middle. 

“The very first thing I used to be pondering to myself was, ‘Not once more,'” LeBron mentioned. “As a result of clearly it was virtually comparable however not the identical sort of play. Man falls into my leg and there is nothing you are able to do about it and I could not get my leg out of there in time.”

LeBron was referencing the play final season the place Atlanta Hawks ahead Solomon Hill dove for a free ball and rolled up his leg. That play resulted in a excessive ankle sprain that stored LeBron out for 26 video games on the finish of the common season, and left him lower than 100% for the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns.

This time round, it fortunately wasn’t as dangerous. For one, LeBron was in a position to keep in and play the remainder of the sport, ending with 40 minutes. 

“Simply wished to take a second on the ground, simply hopefully it wasn’t getting worse,” James mentioned. “Had a chance simply to tie my shoe once more and see if I will go, I used to be in a position to proceed to go.”

Although he admitted after the sport that his leg was nonetheless “sore,” he’s receiving “across the clock” therapy. Heading into the Lakers’ subsequent recreation in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday evening, he was listed as questionable per the NBA‘s newest harm report. Nevertheless, James was formally dominated out when Los Angeles up to date their harm report previous to the opening tip.

Whereas it’s by no means good to see LeBron miss a recreation as a result of harm, the optimistic information for the Lakers is that this does not look like it is going to be any kind of critical, long-term downside.