The Los Angeles Lakers are 1-2 in the week since LeBron James went down with injury, but the King looks closer to returning the hardwood.
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James strained his hamstring on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors and has resumed shooting drills at the Lakers' practice facility, according to head coach Luke Walton, but the 34-year-old is still considered day-to-day.
"He's working on his body, his game, himself all the time,” Walton said, via ESPN. “But that's the first time I've seen him shoot [since the injury]."
🎥 Lance Stephenson talks about stepping up with LeBron out, and who the best trash talkers on the team are. pic.twitter.com/bIsHlBEEb0
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 1, 2019
After an MRI revealed the injury was not as serious as first expected, LeBron took to Twitter, saying he “dodged a bullet,” however the Lakers still expected him to miss 'several games'
Prior to the Lakers' win over the Sacramento Kings, LeBron James' teams had lost 13-straight games without him in the lineup, however with the younger brigade of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball stepping up in James' absence, coach Walton is happy with what he is seeing from his young guys.
“It was good for us, for sure, but we know that was one game and it was a nice win,” Walton said. “Now it’s all about getting refocused and getting better. We did a lot of things sloppy in that game. We were fortunate to be able to win it, but there was a lot of things we could have and should have done better.”
The Lakers will be looking to build on that win and make it two in a row when they take on Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder at STAPLES Center at 10:30 ET Wednesday night.