Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in Sport 5 towards the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, based on a league supply.
The Lakers’ postseason run ended with a 103-96 loss to the Timberwolves. But when the staff had pressured a Sport 6, it might have doubtless been with out James, who scored 22 factors and shot 42.9 % from the sphere Wednesday night time.
The harm seemingly occurred with 8:39 left within the fourth quarter when he collided with Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, who bumped into James’ knee.
James, who’s 40 years previous and simply completed his twenty second NBA season, fell to the ground after the collision. Officers referred to as DiVincenzo for an offensive foul, and James checked out of the sport for a few minute earlier than returning.
Although James performed the ultimate 7:23 of the sport, the Lakers had been unable to catch the Timberwolves, led by heart Rudy Gobert’s 27 factors and 24 rebounds.
If the Lakers had received, Sport 6 would have occurred Friday. A Grade 2 MCL sprain can take 4 to 6 weeks to heal, so James doubtless would have missed that recreation and a Sport 7, too.
It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not James plans to return for an eighth season with the Lakers. Throughout Wednesday’s postgame information convention, James mentioned he hadn’t decided but. He has till June 29 to train a $52.6 million participant possibility for subsequent season.
“You don’t know what the (Lakers) roster will seem like subsequent 12 months in addition to the fellows that (are) locked into contracts,” James mentioned. “S—, I obtained rather a lot to consider myself. So I don’t know what the roster will seem like. I don’t know the place I stand proper now.”
The Lakers entered the postseason because the Western Convention’s No. 3 seed, whereas the Timberwolves got here in at No. 6. The sequence upset leaves James’ playoff file at 184-108.
Minnesota will now face both the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets within the convention semifinals. Golden State leads that sequence, 3-2, with Sport 6 set for Friday at 9 p.m. ET.
(Picture: Harry How / Getty Photos)
