Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James finally returned to action on Friday night after a 20-game absence due to a high right ankle sprain. In his second game back against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, James went to the locker room early once again after feeling soreness in his right ankle.
Despite his situation, the four-time NBA MVP didn't have any regrets on the timing of his comeback. He knew that he needed to see where he's currently at, given that they are already approaching the tail-end of the regular season, per Bill Oram.
LeBron on his injury: "I don't want to say I came back too early but at the end of the day I had to test it out and see where I was at."
— Bill Oram (@billoram) May 3, 2021
James' previous absence coincided with the long layoff of his running mate in Anthony Davis who was also nursing his own Achilles and calf injuries. The two All-Stars evidently need more time to get in better shape as they didn't perform at their best against the Raptors on Sunday.
LBJ finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists through 27 minutes played before he exited the game in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Davis merely notched 12 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in 33 minutes of action.
After seeing less than stellar performances from the two stars, the Lakers eventually dropped their third consecutive game against the struggling Raptors in a 121-114 defeat. The loss dragged the Lakers down to the seventh spot in the Western Conference with a 36-28 record.
Given the team's rocky situation, their remaining tilts have already become must-win games for the Lakers as they look to avoid participating in the play-in tournament. The Memphis Grizzlies are currently holding the eighth seed with a 32-31 record while the Golden State Warriors are closely trailing behind with a 32-32 tally.
Indeed, the Lakers will need the production of both LeBron James and Anthony Davis as they seek to climb the standings and hopefully enter the playoffs with winning momentum and good health.
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