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After missing two games due to a foot injury, LeBron James made a triumphant return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup on Sunday night, helping the team secure a 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena. The veteran forward played a pivotal role, just shy of a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds in the victory.
Lakers’ Dominant Performance Before the Drama
The Lakers appeared to be cruising toward an easy victory, having built up a 20-point lead at one point in the third quarter. However, their momentum was briefly interrupted when star big man Anthony Davis suffered a shoulder injury after colliding with Grizzlies center Zach Edey. Davis went to the locker room, and Memphis took advantage, cutting the Lakers' lead to single digits. The Grizzlies ended the third quarter on a 16-5 run following Davis' exit.
Despite the scare, Davis returned to the court in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers seal the win. He finished with a season-high 40 points and 16 rebounds, leading his team alongside James and Austin Reaves, who had 19 points and eight assists. These three were the only Lakers players to reach double figures in scoring.
LeBron James Talks Health After Time Off
James had missed the Lakers' previous two games, including a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, after suffering from a sore foot. Prior to that, he also missed practice for what was reported as "personal reasons." The time off was seen as a necessary step for the 36-year-old to recover.
In a conversation before the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that he and James had discussed the importance of the star taking time off to heal. Redick reflected on his own experience of playing multiple seasons and how challenging it is for players like James, Chris Paul, and Tom Brady to maintain their level of excellence year after year. “I played 15 [seasons] and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained, fried. I put everything I had into this game. I had nothing left," Redick explained. "For guys like him and [Chris Paul], Tom Bradys of the world, the Roger Federers of the world, it’s hard to comprehend having that level of sustained excellence for so long, because of the toll that it takes on all of you, not just your body.”
Lakers’ Victory Despite Injury Scare
The Grizzlies were led by Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 25 points in the loss. Ja Morant contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Edey added 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. This defeat ended a four-game win streak for Memphis, which now sits at 18-9 for the season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers improved their record to 14-12 with the win, which was only their second victory in the last six games. Despite his absence earlier in the week, James assured the media that his health was in good shape following his time off. “I feel pretty good,” James said after the game. “It’s very rare throughout a season when you can take advantage of a schedule and I was able to do that over the past week.”
With the Lakers not scheduled to play again until Thursday, when they face the Sacramento Kings, James should be well-rested and ready to continue contributing to his team’s efforts moving forward.
