LeBron James moved gingerly to the bench, grabbing towards the within of his left leg halfway by means of the third quarter.
This, for the Lakers, was the worst-case situation on an evening the place they might lock up their best-case situation for the playoffs.
A win towards 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 first-round of the playoffs that might start in additional than per week inside their constructing.
However dropping James to a groin harm? That will puncture their championship desires.
With out him, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves took turns barbecuing the reserve Rockets’ perimeter protection, however the Lakers would wish their 40-year-old star to be OK.
It’s a secure guess he’s simply high-quality.
Within the fourth quarter afer Reaves made rookie Jack McVeigh stumble, James celebrated the stepback by strolling off the bench all the way in which to the basket, solely to moonwalk his means again — one in all a handful of occasions he celebrated the Lakers’ 140-109 win — an end result that ensures their season finale in Portland gained’t have any influence on their postseason.
Lakers ahead Jarred Vanderbilt blocks a shot by Houston Rockets guard Jalen Inexperienced within the first half Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Which means Sunday may be day of relaxation for the Lakers’ stars whereas they wait to see who they’ll face within the playoffs, internet hosting a Recreation 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.”
Friday, in what might be his common season finale, Doncic was elegant, scoring 39 factors on solely 19 shot makes an attempt in 31 minutes. Reaves had 23, Dorian Finney-Smith had 18 and Rui Hachimura had 16 factors within the win. James left the sport after 22 minutes with 14 factors and eight assists.
The Lakers shot 61.6% from the sphere throughout their fiftieth win of the season. It was their finest taking pictures sport of the season.
