Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is aiming to return for Wednesday’s showdown with the Houston Rockets.
“LeBron James will give that right ankle one more day off today against the Knicks,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin reported Tuesday afternoon.
The update confirms the official Lakers injury report released Monday night for the New York Knicks game, in which James was listed as “OUT” for Tuesday’s clash at Staples Center.
However, LeBron was also ruled out the night before the Lakers game against the Sacramento Kings on April 30, only to call an audible and decide to give it a try hours before kickoff.
James’ return in two games after missing 20 games with a high ankle sprain didn’t exactly go as planned: The Lakers lost both games to lottery teams and James came out of the second game, a home loss to the Toronto Raptors on May 2, prematurely after experiencing what he described as “sharp pain.”
The Lakers (38-30) have gone 2-2 since Lebron James again aggravated his right ankle sprain, thanks in large part to a heroic series of performances by Anthony Davis, including a 42-point two-way masterpiece against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. (Fielding) (GG)