LeBron James Makes Comeback After 13-Game Absence, Lakers Fall To Bulls

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James 

After a 13-game absence due to a right foot injury, LeBron James returned to the court on Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Chicago Bulls.

Unfortunately, James' return did not result in a win for the Lakers, as they lost 118-108, putting them back under .500 at 37-38 and dropping them to the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Despite the loss, James had a solid performance off the bench, scoring 19 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out three assists in 29 minutes of play.

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James 

The Lakers had announced just before tipoff that James would be available, and he was cleared to play after testing his foot during pregame warmups.

However, James did not start the game, coming off the bench for only the second time in his NBA career and the first time since 2007.

James revealed that his injury was actually a torn tendon that typically requires much longer than four weeks to recover from. 

Multiple doctors had recommended season-ending surgery, but James sought another opinion and was able to return to the court on Sunday.

The Lakers managed to stay afloat without James, going 8-5 in his absence and rising to the No. 8 spot in the conference standings after a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, the team's postseason aspirations rely on having James and Anthony Davis healthy and playing at their best.

With seven games left in the regular season, there is still time for James to get back into game shape and prepare for a postseason run.

The Lakers' roster looks stronger after trading Russell Westbrook for D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt at the deadline.

In 2021, James returned from an injury with only two games left in the regular season and was not himself in a first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns. With more time to prepare, the Lakers have a better chance of making a deep postseason run this year.

Read Next: Jordan Poole's Aggressiveness Drives Warriors To Win Over 76ers With Stephen Curry's Guidance

Source: CBS Sports

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