LeBron James (ankle) likely back for Lakers Friday vs. Spurs،
SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Lakers opened the final stretch of the season with a disappointing 128-110 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, but “in all likelihood” LeBron James will be back in the lineup Friday, according to the coach of the Lakers. Darvin Ham.
For a team that's counting on James, 39, to stabilize it, he's only played 14 minutes of action over the past week and a half, and all of those minutes came during the NBA All-Star Game – this which is not a challenge. sporting effort.
After missing the Lakers' final game before the All-Star break due to left ankle soreness, James sat out again Thursday to rest his ankle after seeking treatment during the break, reports said. sources at ESPN.
Los Angeles hosts the San Antonio Spurs on the second night of a back-to-back for both teams. The Spurs lost 127-122 on the road to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
“We will have official word [Friday] morning and we'll see, but in all likelihood he should be there tomorrow,” Ham said of James.
While James was missing in action Thursday, the Lakers' other star, Anthony Davis, was missing his voice.
Davis woke up Thursday morning with a sore throat and his voice faded throughout the day. The situation became so serious that Davis, who finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, could barely communicate in weak, raspy sentences while speaking with Austin Reaves in the postgame locker room, let alone 'call the defensive coverages as the anchor of the Los Angeles back line. .
“You're not going to pull off a match like this with that type of firepower and that type of snakehead, according to Steph. [Curry]without everyone talking and being alert and ready and doing our job early and being in position early,” Ham said. “Those are times when you have to put in multiple efforts and you have to yell and communicate with your teammates .
“[Davis] having a little trouble with his voice tonight definitely impacted the match. I take my hat off to him. He still went out and did the best job he could under the circumstances. …It's not just him. Everyone must speak and cover their teammates. »
It was just another challenge for a Lakers team still suffering from the absences of Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent for weeks already and which is now missing Christian Wood with swelling in his left knee.
“At the top of the list of those trying to get to where we're trying to get to, we have to be healthy,” Ham said. “We need to put the bodies back in the queue.”
