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LeBron James Shows No Rust in Big Return
So much for easing back in.
In his first game since Christmas to let a groin injury heal, LeBron James played 40 minutes and came an assist short of a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 123-120, in overtime on Thursday night.
James had missed 17 games, the longest absence of his N.B.A. career, after injuring his groin in the holiday game against the Golden State Warriors. Initially expected to sit out only a few games, James was forced to miss five weeks when the injury lingered.
The Lakers were 20-14 at the time of his injury, and even won the Christmas game after he left in the third quarter, but they were 6-11 without him and now stand in the ninth spot in the Western Conference, just out of the playoff picture.
The overtime win on Thursday was doubly meaningful because it came against the Clippers, who occupy the eighth spot, currently one game ahead of their in-city rivals.
The Lakers were cagey about James’s status for the game, listing him as “doubtful” and not announcing his participation until an hour and a half before game time despite widespread suspicion he would play.
There was nothing doubtful about his performance. James finished with 24 points along with 14 rebounds and 9 assists, all game highs.
“Being out five weeks, I’m feeling it right now,” James told reporters. “I wish I could click my shoes together right now and be home in my bed.”
Lakers Coach Luke Walton told The Los Angeles Times: “Wasn’t looking to play LeBron 40 minutes tonight, but that’s just kind of the way the game played out.”
While James’s return performance reinforces the narrative that he is a timeless superstar, making the N.B.A. finals year after year, the injury is a reminder that he is 34, and the window for greatness in Los Angeles will not be open forever.
With that in mind, Los Angeles is very interested in acquiring a superstar to complement James, specifically Anthony Davis of the Pelicans, who is interested in moving on. Davis was fined $50,000 this week after his agent, Rich Paul, spoke too freely about trades. Paul was at the Lakers game on Thursday night.
Davis has been dealing with an injury of his own, to his finger, which has caused him to miss the last six games.
The N.B.A. trade deadline is Thursday.
An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the person who was fined for an N.B.A. agent’s public comments about trades. The player Anthony Davis, was fined for the remarks, not his agent, Rich Paul.
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