Lakers shut LeBron down for season
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LeBron James’ first season with the Lakers is over.
The team announced Saturday he would sit out the remainder of its games, allowing him more time to rest the first significant injury of his career.
“After consulting with our team doctors and medical staff, we have decided to hold LeBron out of games for the remainder of the season,” the team said in a statement attributed to President Magic Johnson and General Manager Rob Pelinka. “This decision will allow his groin to fully heal, and is best for the future success of both LeBron and the Lakers.”
The Lakers added that James would accompany the team on its upcoming trip to New Orleans and Oklahoma City.
James was hurt in a victory over Golden State on Christmas and in his 16th season was forced to miss substantial time after being largely healthy since coming into the NBA as the first pick in the 2003 draft. He sat out 17 games before returning on Jan. 31, and the Lakers were unable to recover and make the playoffs.
They are 34-42 after beating Charlotte 129-115 on Friday, with James scoring 27 points in what turned out to be his final appearance.
It’s the first time James won’t play in the postseason since 2005, when he was in his second NBA season with Cleveland. He had appeared in the last eight NBA Finals.
James averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 55 games.
L.A. Clippers 132, Cleveland 106: Montrezl Harrell scored 23 points, rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 22 points and eight assists, and the playoff-bound Los Angeles Clippers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 132-108 Saturday.
The Clippers have won seven of eight and 12 of 14, and they moved within one-half game of San Antonio for the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
JaMychal Green added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who connected on 15 of 33 3-pointers. Los Angeles shot 62.4 percent overall.
Jordan Clarkson scored 26 points in 24 minutes off the bench for Cleveland, while rookie Collin Sexton added 21 points and Cedi Osman had 19. Sexton scored at least 20 points for the 11th time in his past 12 games.
Houston 119, Sacramento 108: James Harden had 50 points 11 rebounds and 10 assists, scoring 10 straight Houston points down the stretch to help the Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 119-108.
Harden had his 42nd career triple-double and third 50-point game in the last six. He made seven 3-pointers to become the ninth player in NBA history to reach 2,000 career 3s.