Following the Los Angeles Lakers; 116-109 loss to the LA Clippers on opening night, the focus quickly shifter to the health of LeBron James, who turned his ankle midway through the fourth quarter.
He landed awkwardly following an attempted block on Ivica Zubac, exiting the game with 7:51 remaining with the Clippers in front 99-92 and did not return.
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“I turned it pretty good, but I don’t think it’s going to stop me from playing on Friday,” he said post-game.
[We] got a couple days and obviously you know how I am about treatment so i'll do that around the clock and i think i should be fine by Friday."
In consultation with head coach Frank Vogel and his trainer Mike Mancias, they decided to sit him for the remainder of the game, with one eye on thier Christmas Day chowdown with the Dallas Mavericks.
LeBron jokingly explained his recovery solution....drinking some vino.
"I'll go home and have dinner right now and ice it and i'll drink some wine that will flow right to the ankle, probably the best recvoery I can have," he said. "I'll make sure I drink on the left side of my body so it goes right down to my left leg, right down to my ankle.
"I'll be around the clock, I'll wake up tomorrow morning before I leave the house and also get some more treatment and then get some at the facility as well and jsut continue to do that, we have a couple of days so like I said I feel like i'll be fine."
LeBron recorded 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four turnovers, shooting 7-of-17 from the field and 3-of-8 from the 3-point line, playing just 28 minutes.
The Lakers will host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks at STAPLES Center on Christmas Day, with tip-off set for 6:30 a.m. (IST, Dec. 26).
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