LeBron James says ‘I will be all proper’ after ankle causes exit

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James limped off the courtroom and into the locker room within the waning minutes of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 130-120 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

“I will be all proper,” James stated after getting his left ankle examined, his 31 factors and 13 assists in 36 minutes having gone to waste within the defeat. “It is simply my ankle. It is simply what I have been coping with earlier than the [All-Star] break, after the break. I am simply managing it one of the best ways I can.”

James stated there was no particular play that precipitated him discomfort Wednesday.

“I performed the entire third, sat slightly bit to start out the fourth, and after I obtained again in, it sort of simply — no matter,” James stated. “It is simply one thing I have been coping with.”

A supply accustomed to the damage instructed ESPN the ankle ache is solely being attributable to “put on and tear” for the 39-year-old James, who’s in his twenty first season.

“Some video games are higher than others,” James stated. “I did not really feel it in any respect in opposition to OKC [on Monday]. And I did not really feel it in any respect till the fourth quarter tonight. So, every recreation, every day is completely different.”

James got here into the night time listed as questionable due to the left ankle damage. He didn’t make clear whether or not he’ll have the ability to play Friday when L.A. hosts the Milwaukee Bucks.

Anthony Davis stated the Lakers have sufficient to get again on observe if James should miss time. However Davis had a far much less sunny outlook about what occurred in opposition to the Kings.

L.A. raced out to a 37-18 lead with 1:52 remaining within the first quarter. Not lengthy after, Davis picked up his second foul and was subbed out, and Sacramento closed the quarter on a 10-0 run.

“Malik Monk got here in, made a big effect. Davion Mitchell made a big effect,” James stated. “And so they modified the sport. It was a whole 180. That was the sport proper there from one quarter to the following.”

The Lakers got here into the night time 1½ video games behind the Kings for the No. 7 spot within the West, with one other recreation looming in Sacramento subsequent week.

The Kings’ win, their third in three tries in opposition to the Lakers, means Sacramento will win the season sequence with L.A. it doesn’t matter what occurs subsequent week — one thing that might hang-out the Lakers in a tiebreak state of affairs for postseason seeding.

The loss, the second previously three video games for the Lakers, dropped them to No. 10 within the West.

“It sucks,” stated Davis, who totaled simply 14 factors on 5-for-13 capturing and 11 rebounds. “Particularly in a must-win recreation that we would have liked.”

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 44 factors on 19-for-32 capturing; Domantas Sabonis had 16 factors, 20 rebounds and 12 assists; and Monk and Mitchell mixed for 38 factors on 14-for-23 capturing off the bench.

“A few of the issues we had been in defensively allowed them — allowed De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk — to get no matter they need, reside within the paint,” Davis stated. “And if I’m going assist, then Sabonis is broad open. So, they did a superb job manipulating what we had been doing.”