LeBron James Avoids Serious Knee Injury as Lakers Outgun Jazz
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The Los Angeles Lakers left Salt Lake City on Thursday night with a 145-134 victory over the Utah Jazz—and with relief after LeBron James escaped what appeared to be a significant knee injury.
Midway through the second quarter at Delta Center, James absorbed knee-to-knee contact from Jazz rookie Walter Clayton Jr. The collision sent the 40-year-old forward to the floor in visible pain. After several moments with team medical staff, he returned to action and finished with 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
“It was a sharp pain on the medial side of my knee,” James told Spectrum SportsNet post-game. “I told (head athletic trainer) Mike Mancias we dodged a bullet.” The incident involved the same left knee that sidelined him late last season.
James, who turns 41 next week, acknowledged the heightened concern that comes with nearly two decades of NBA mileage. “You take a knee to the inside of your knee at that speed—it can be alarming,” he said. “I’m very grateful that nothing came out of it.” He added that how the joint responds during the team’s flight back to Los Angeles will determine his availability for Saturday’s matchup with the L.A. Clippers at Intuit Dome.
The Lakers improved to 19-7, holding third place in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic powered the offense with a 45-point triple-double, while Los Angeles played without injured starters Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.
Head coach JJ Redick praised the second-half defense after the Lakers surrendered 78 first-half points to a Jazz lineup missing Lauri Markkanen. “We tightened up when we had to,” Redick said, as the team seeks consistency on that end of the floor.
The Clippers enter Saturday with one of the league’s worst records, but the Lakers may wait until game day to decide whether James will play.
Source: Lakers Nation
