Highlights:
- LA Lakers faced Atlanta Hawks on Sunday (IST 1:00 AM)
- Lakers saw a huge blow as LeBron James immediately grabbed his right ankle high as he collided with Solomon hill
- LeBron will be sidelined indefinitely said LA Lakers
In the second quarter of the game played between Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday (1:00 AM IST), Lakers’ star player LeBron James left the court with a high right ankle sprain which will leave him sidelined indefinitely.
Also, Los Angeles went on to fall 99-94 to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Two hours after the game ended, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James will stay out indefinitely. The defending NBA champions already are without the All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, who has missed 14 consecutive games owing to the right calf injury and likely that will not play a game until April.
LeBron, on Sunday, tweeted, “Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now. Man facepalming. The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left. #ThekidfromAKRON”.
Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now. ??♂. The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left. #ThekidfromAKRON??
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 21, 2021
When James collided with Solomon hill, he got hurt as he rolled his ankle under the Hawks’ player who was called for a foul as he reached awkwardly for a steal.
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The 36-year-old Basketball superstar played screamed and fell to the court clutching at his ankle, however, being the sportsman he is, he got up and briefly stayed in the game.
Kyle Kuzma, the player who played with Lakers when James missed 17 games due to a groin injury 2 seasons ago said, “I haven’t necessarily seen him scream and squall like that, probably ever, not even with that groin,” and added, “It had to hurt a little bit, for sure.”
After sustaining the injury, LeBron James hit a corner 3-pointer which extended his NBA-record streak of games with at least 10 points to 1,036. After the shot he he called for a timeout and left the court shortly afterwards.
James knocked over a chair in frustration as he went to the locker room.
Frank Vogel, Lakers’ Coach said, “The mood of the team is we’re disappointed we lost, and we’ve got to come back and get one tomorrow”.
Vogel also said, “I won’t disclose what LeBron was like (in the locker room). It’s in-house.”
John Collins had 27 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, and Trae Young added 14 points and 11 assists for the Hawks. The duo opened an eight-game trip with their 8th consecutive victory under new coach Nate McMillan, however, it only came when their defending champion opponents lost their 17-time All-Star to an injury and if it turns out to be serious, it could possibly shake the NBA’s balance of power.