LeBron cleared for more activity, but not to play
EL SEGUNDO >> LeBron James’ strained groin is turning out to be perhaps the most significant injury of the famously durable superstar’s 16-year NBA career.
James likely will miss at least three more games after being cleared to increase his on-court activity in his comeback from the injury, the Lakers announced Thursday after an evaluation by their medical staff.
The Lakers say James’ healing is “progressing,” and the four-time NBA MVP will participate in more functional basketball activities during the upcoming week. But the team also says it will provide another update on Jan. 16, which probably means James will miss the Lakers’ three upcoming games against Utah, Cleveland and Chicago.
If James sits out as expected, he will miss 11 consecutive games before his next update, and he will have been out of action for over three weeks since getting hurt during the Lakers’ win at Golden State on Christmas.
Those are significant numbers: James never missed more than 13 games during any of his first 15 NBA seasons, and he never sat out for more than two full weeks during his decorated tenures with the Cavaliers or the Miami Heat.
Cavs’ Nance could miss month
CLEVELAND >> Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. could miss a month with a sprained right knee ligament, another blow to the NBA’s worst team.
Nance got hurt in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s loss to Indiana and didn’t return.
The team said an MRI taken Thursday confirmed that he sprained his medial collateral ligament, and that he will be out for a minimum of two weeks.
The 26-year-old Nance did not play Wednesday night in New Orleans as the Cavs lost their 11th straight game, the opener of a sixgame trip.
Cleveland has been riddled with injuries all season, and at just 8-34 has the league’s worst record. HEAT 115, CELTICS 99 >> Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, Josh Richardson added 18 and Miami connected on a season-high 18
3-pointers on the way to beating Boston.
Archbishop Carroll All-Delco Derrick Jones Jr. scored 14 points, and Justise Winslow finished with
13 points and a career-best 11 assists for the Heat. Miami had 33 assists on 45 field goals.