Negative tests clear LeBron

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has been cleared to return to the Lakers after missing one game under the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

The league said Thursday that James is not positive for COVID-19 despite a series of tests that produced conflicting results earlier this week. Additional testing cleared James to play when the Lakers host the Clippers on Friday night.

James got an initial positive test from a sample collected Monday. The sample was retested twice, producing one positive and one negative result. James underwent additional testing Tuesday, but those tests returned one negative result and one clinically inconclusive result, according to the league.

James subsequently had two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, meeting the criteria necessary to return to play.

James, whois averaging 25.8 points, 6.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds in his 11 games this season, said earlier in the season that he is vaccinated. A clear positive test likely would have kept James away for 10 days or more.