The collision between LeBron James and Kevin Durant during the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent victory over the Phoenix Suns has left James battling discomfort. In the first quarter of the game, James and Durant bumped legs as James attempted a layup. He limped off the court and grabbed his left knee in pain, but returned in the second quarter to finish the game with an impressive performance. However, James admitted postgame that he still felt discomfort in his leg.
The collision occurred as James was driving towards the paint, and his leg awkwardly hit Durant’s knee with significant force. This impact caused his shin to lock up and sent pain shooting down to his foot. Despite the discomfort, James managed to keep his composure and played the game, contributing 32 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
After the game, James expressed that he is currently experiencing soreness, especially as the adrenaline wears off. He has been icing his leg to alleviate the discomfort. James has been playing extended minutes due to the Lakers’ injury situation, with head coach Darvin Ham unable to limit his workload as initially planned for the 2023-24 season.
Meanwhile, Anthony Davis made a return to the court against the Suns after missing the Lakers’ previous game against the Houston Rockets. Davis had been dealing with left adductor and hip injuries, but he felt more comfortable during the game against the Suns as it progressed. Although he felt his injuries a couple of times, Davis stated that, for the most part, he was feeling good.
The Lakers’ victory over the Suns brought their record to 4-5 for the season. However, they have had to deal with several injury concerns. Gabe Vincent suffered a knee issue, while rookies Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jarred Vanderbilt are yet to make their debuts due to patella and heel injuries, respectively. Additionally, Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, and Jaxson Hayes have also missed games during the current campaign.
Overall, the Lakers are facing challenges with injuries to key players. LeBron James is battling discomfort following his collision with Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis has been struggling with adductor and hip injuries. The team is hoping for a speedy recovery for all their injured players as they navigate through the early part of the season.
