LeBron James exits early as Lakers beat Rockets | College News
LeBron James moved gingerly to the bench, grabbing on the inside of his left leg halfway by the third quarter.
This, for the Lakers, was a doable worst-case state of affairs on a evening after they might lock up their best-case state of affairs for the playoffs.
A win in opposition to the Rockets with Houston sitting 80% of its beginning lineup would lock the Lakers into the No. 3 seed, giving them and their starters an prolonged relaxation heading into the primary spherical of the playoffs that may start in more than a week inside their building.
But dropping James to a groin damage? That might puncture their championship goals.
Without him, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves took turns barbecuing the reserve Rockets’ perimeter protection, however the Lakers needed their 40-year-old star to be OK.
It’s a protected wager he’s simply positive.
In the fourth quarter after Reaves made rookie Jack McVeigh stumble, James celebrated the step-back by strolling off the bench all the best way to the basket, solely to moonwalk his method back — one of a handful of instances he celebrated within the Lakers’ 140-109 win — an consequence that ensures their season finale in Portland gained’t have any impression on their postseason.
Lakers star LeBron James dunks over Houston Rockets middle Jock Landale (2) within the first half Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
That means Sunday will be day of relaxation for the Lakers’ stars whereas they wait to see who they’ll face within the playoffs, internet hosting a Game 1 in Los Angeles for the primary time for the reason that first spherical of the 2012 playoffs.
After the sport, Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed James is “fine.” Redick spoke to reporters after getting doused in ice water within the locker room by the Lakers celebrating clinching the third seed.
Friday, in what could possibly be his regular-season finale, Doncic was chic, scoring 39 factors on solely 19 pictures in 31 minutes. Reaves had 23 factors, Dorian Finney-Smith had 18 and Rui Hachimura had 16. James left the sport after 22 minutes with 14 factors and eight assists.
The Lakers shot 61% from the sphere during their fiftieth win. It was their best capturing sport of the season.
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