LeBron James' availability to start for the Miami Heat (18-6) in their big game against the Indiana Pacers (20-4) is in some doubt after 'King James' missed Tuesday's team practice due to an ankle sprain.
James, who left Monday's 117-94 victory over the Utah Jazz after hurting his ankle in the third quarter but returned in the fourth and ended up being the team's leading scorer with 30 points, said he expected to feel pain on Tuesday.
"I've had my fair share of ankle twists so I already knew how it was going to be today," James told NBA.com Tuesday. "Very stiff, very sore, it'll be around the clock treatment with Mike [Mancias, his trainer] and we'll go from there."
On top of leading the team with 30 points, James also added nine assists and nine rebounds to his night and Miami would love to have all hands on deck when it takes on an Indiana team that holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a lead of two games over the Heat.'
NBA.com reports that James said that if the Heat had a game on Tuesday he would not be in the lineup "for sure" due to the pain he was in, casting some doubt on Wednesday's night's affair against the Pacers. James said his recovery from sprains fluctuates as he's had all different healing processes from strains being quick healing to strains keeping him sidelined.
"I've had extreme to not so extreme," James said via NBA.com. "We've been through this and we know how to attack it."
James rolled his ankle inward while dribbling late in the third quarter on Monday night and spent seven minutes on the Heat bench afterward while at one point he was banging on the court in frustration over the injury and the swelling.
James even sat alone with a towel over his head while his teammates had a discussion between the third and fourth quarters, but eventually got up and joined the rest of the team.
James didn't miss a beat after returning, but the fact that he couldn't play or practice on Tuesday is a bit of a concern.
"It's not the first time he's gone through it with that ankle," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said per NBA.com. "Lot of treatment, lot of rest, see how he feels."
James, who has appeared in all 24 of the Heat's games this season, is averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
The Heat and Pacers--two of the Eastern Conferences power-houses--go head-to-head for the second of four meeting Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Heat are looking to avenge a tough loss in Indiana earlier this season the first time these two teams clashed, but they are shrugging off the first loss having any significant meaning.
"It's a basketball game versus two good teams," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said, according to NBA.com. "A lot of that goes on in the NBA. It's not our championship."
James has been a huge part of the Heat's back-to-back NBA championships, but he may not be a part of their game on Wednesday night.
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