LOS ANGELES — LeBron James returned to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening in a 116-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies after a two-game break.
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James is combating a left foot damage and and was away from the group most of final week due to private causes.
James didn’t play final Sunday towards Portland or Friday evening at Minnesota. The Lakers introduced about 45 minutes earlier than tip-off towards Memphis that James’ standing had been upgraded from questionable to obtainable.
James had 18 factors, eight rebounds, eight assists and 5 turnovers in 34 minutes.
“I felt pretty good,” James mentioned. “It’s very rare throughout the course of the season where you can take advantage of the schedule, and I was able to do that the past week.”
The Lakers described James’ time away as an excused absence whereas noting that he is additionally been managing some left foot ache. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed earlier than the sport with Memphis that he and the four-time NBA MVP met on the day of the Portland recreation to debate his plan for a break.
“After I talked to him earlier this week, I feel I mentioned one thing alongside these traces, simply hoping that he was getting a very good thoughts and physique reset,” Redick said in his pregame availability Sunday. “He mentioned he felt like he was.”
James is the NBA’s oldest player and turns 40 on Dec. 30. Including playoffs, no player in league history has appeared in more games or played more minutes than James — who is in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the NBA record.
“I felt my foot, felt my body….I did my pregame workout on that Sunday for the Portland game and decided it was probably best if I took that day off,” James said. “I had the opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and just everything where I wanted to be for tonight, and it worked out.”
Redick indicated that he could appreciate if James felt the need for a few days off.
“I played 15 and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained, fried,” Redick mentioned. “I put the whole lot I had into this recreation. I had nothing left. For guys like him and , the Tom Brady’s of the world, the Roger Federer’s of the world, it is exhausting to understand having that degree of sustained excellence for therefore lengthy due to the toll that it takes on all of you, not simply your physique.”
James mentioned he spent most of his time away rehabbing his foot and coaching to remain in recreation form.
“It was a very easy decision for myself and for the team and for my trainer to be able to take advantage of those days, just for everything,” James mentioned. “It was great.”
James is averaging 23 factors, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds this season. He additionally has seven triple-doubles, second-most within the NBA behind Denver’s Nikola Jokic.
This story has been up to date to right the rating to 116-110.
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