LOS ANGELES — LeBron James said the left knee soreness that nearly sidelined him on Feb. 20 began during a scrimmage the previous day, yet the 41-year-old forward insisted on playing in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-117 victory over the L.A. Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.
According to James, the discomfort started when he landed hard after a dunk attempt in Thursday’s practice. “I went up for a dunk and came down pretty good,” he told reporters postgame. “A couple minutes into the scrimmage after that, I started getting a little soreness and started getting a little tight.”
The Lakers downgraded James to questionable hours before tip-off, but after warming up he took the floor, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, 11 assists and three rebounds. Head coach JJ Redick added that James also played through a migraine.
“If I’m going to play, I’ve got to make something happen,” James said. “I’ve got to be productive for the team.”
The contest remained close until the final minutes, when Los Angeles secured the win with several key defensive stops. James credited the team’s late-game effort and highlighted strong offensive performances from Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
The night marked the first time this season the Lakers had every player available, a development James believes is crucial for building on-court chemistry during the season’s stretch run. “Every second we’re on the floor together helps,” he said. “Tonight was one of the first games where JJ and the coaching staff could look down and see everybody available.”
Los Angeles hosts a long-time rival on Sunday as it continues a critical homestand.
Source: LakersNation.com
