Two of the worst words in the NBA are “a pop.”
But that’s what LeBron James sensed in the third quarter on Christmas while the Los Angeles Lakers were taking on the Golden State Warriors in LA.
James was forced to leave the game, finishing his evening with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Despite his absence, the Lakers continued to play well and wound up defeating the reigning NBA champs 127-101.
Worst four words in the last decade of #Lakers basketball: "I felt a pop." – LeBron James #LALvsGSW pic.twitter.com/2NIJbhT8KN
— Bleacher Preacher / Sports (@BleachrPreachr) December 26, 2018
The win was nice, but the potential loss of James for an extended period looms large for the Lakers.
The superstar said his groin muscle was “intact” but he had “overextended” it.
“I wasn’t able to go back into the game, obviously. I’ll get an MRI tomorrow and see what’s up,” James said. “With me with injuries, I’m never too concerned about them. I was able to walk off on my own power. I felt a pop, see if I could stretch it a few times, see if it would relieve but it didn’t. … I did a couple exercises to see if I could continue to go but I didn’t feel like it would benefit my team or me. So I came back and got a jump start on the rehab.”
James will undergo an MRI exam Wednesday.
If James is unable to play when the Lakers take the court next on Thursday, it will be the first time he has missed a game after 156 consecutive starts.
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