LOS ANGELES — LeBron James left within the second quarter with a excessive proper ankle sprain that the Lakers mentioned will sideline him indefinitely, and Los Angeles went on to fall 99-94 to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Two hours after the sport, the Lakers introduced that James is out indefinitely. The defending NBA champions already are with out All-NBA huge man Anthony Davis, who has missed 14 consecutive video games with a proper calf damage and will not play once more till April.
James was harm when he rolled his ankle beneath Solomon Hill, who was known as for a foul as he reached awkwardly for a steal. The 36-year-old famous person screamed and fell to the courtroom clutching at his ankle, but he obtained up and briefly stayed within the sport.
“I haven’t essentially seen him scream and squall like that, in all probability ever, not even with that groin,” mentioned Kyle Kuzma, who was with the Lakers when James missed 17 video games with a groin damage two seasons in the past. “It needed to harm somewhat bit, for certain.”
After the damage, James hit a nook 3-pointer that prolonged his NBA-record streak of video games with a minimum of 10 factors to 1,036, however he known as a timeout and left the courtroom shortly afterward. James knocked over a chair in frustration as he went to the locker room.
“The temper of the crew is we’re upset we misplaced, and we’ve obtained to return again and get one tomorrow,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “I gained’t disclose what LeBron was like (within the locker room). It’s in-house.”
John Collins had 27 factors and a season-high 16 rebounds, and Trae Younger added 14 factors and 11 assists for the Hawks. They opened an eight-game journey with their eighth straight victory beneath new coach Nate McMillan — however solely after their defending champion opponents misplaced their 17-time All-Star to an damage that might shake the NBA’s stability of energy if it seems to be critical.
With James out, the remaining Lakers rallied and really took a one-point result in halftime, however missed their first 11 photographs of the second half. Danilo Gallinari scored 14 of his 18 factors after halftime for the Hawks, who’re on their longest profitable streak since January 2015.
“That was the very first thing I informed the blokes: We will’t calm down as a result of LeBron is out of the sport,” McMillan mentioned. “We’ve got to maintain up the stress, and I assumed our guys did that.”
James’ absence left the Lakers with out three starters within the second half, and the Hawks capitalized for his or her first street victory over Los Angeles since March 2016. Together with Davis, Marc Gasol missed his seventh straight sport since February after sitting out beneath the NBA’s well being and security protocols.
“It’s totally different with out (James), with out AD,” Gallinari mentioned. “In fact they’re a distinct crew. However on the identical time, all the gamers that stepped up are all NBA veterans with expertise, guys that gained championships. I might say it’s anyway an excellent win.”
Montrezl Harrell had 23 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Dennis Schröder had 16 factors and 7 assists in opposition to his former crew for the Lakers, whose four-game profitable streak ended amid a lot larger considerations.
Harrell instructed Hill’s actions throughout James’ damage have been “not a basketball play,” and mentioned the officers ought to have thought of giving him greater than a private foul.
TIP-INS
Hawks: “It’s positively a distinct sort of sport when Bron is out,” Younger mentioned. “The whole lot they do goes by way of him and AD.” … Clint Capela had 16 rebounds.
Lakers: Gasol has cleared the NBA’s well being and security protocols, however coach Frank Vogel mentioned the Spaniard wasn’t able to play as a result of he hasn’t practiced since February.
RONDO RETURNS
The Lakers performed a tribute video to former guard Rajon Rondo, who had 5 assists in 14 minutes throughout his first journey to Staples Middle for the reason that Lakers’ championship run within the Florida bubble. Rondo, who already obtained his championship ring by way of the mail earlier this season, watched the video appreciatively.
Rondo additionally stoked extra nostalgia from Lakers followers when he obtained a technical foul within the third quarter for a bizarre little bit of gamesmanship, inexplicably shoving the basketball into Schröder’s face after a whistle.
“I like opponents who actually attempt to compete in opposition to me on the courtroom, however that’s not competing,” Schröder mentioned. “I’m going to depart it at that.”
UP NEXT
Hawks: At Los Angeles Clippers on Monday evening
Lakers: At Phoenix on Sunday evening.
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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports activities
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