Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James avoided injury after exiting midway through the third quarter of Friday night’s 140-109 win over the Houston Rockets, head coach JJ Redick said postgame.
James, 40, left the game with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. There was concern he may have aggravated the groin injury that sidelined him for two weeks in March, or a separate issue with his hip. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin noted that James was favoring his left side and wearing a wrap near his quad and hip.
Redick, however, downplayed any concern, saying simply that James is “fine.”
Latest on LeBron James’ Injury as Los Angeles Lakers Near Postseason Action
The Lakers’ bench offered further reassurance, as James remained engaged and animated in the fourth quarter, celebrating Austin Reaves’ three-pointer with no visible signs of discomfort.
James has battled through minor injuries this season, including the groin strain that caused him to miss seven straight games before returning March 22.
When asked after his return if he was fully recovered, James said, “I just take it day by day. I hope it’s behind [me], but I don’t want to go too far in the future.”
Despite the occasional injury scare, James has been remarkably durable in his 21st NBA season, appearing in 70 games while averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds. Friday’s win secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference for Los Angeles, giving James and the Lakers the opportunity to rest ahead of the playoffs.
The Lakers will close out their regular-season schedule Sunday but are expected to give James the night off, preserving his health for the postseason, which begins April 19 or 20.
With midseason acquisition Luka Dončić sharing the workload, the Lakers enter the playoffs with momentum and championship aspirations — hoping to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since their 2020 title run.
