LeBron James was making a statement on the court when the Milwaukee Bucks had to make one of their own.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had been hurt two nights earlier while losing to James and the Los Angeles Lakers, and on Sunday afternoon they said the reigning MVP had a minor sprain of his left knee and would miss at least two games.
Shortly after, James and the Lakers closed out the Clippers for another big win. Milwaukee lost again later Sunday and dropped a third in a row Monday in Denver while resting other regulars.
It was a reminder that everything in the NBA always comes down to health.
James and the Lakers have it right now, along with suddenly the look of the team to beat.
“I feel like right now I’m just playing some really good basketball,” James said. “Last year obviously started out really well but the injury hurt me a lot physically and mentally as well, having an injury like that.”
That was a groin injury he sustained while the Lakers were blowing out Golden State on Christmas Day. It continued to trouble him until he was shut down for the season in late March.
Now, he’s the Western Conference player of the week, averaging 30.3 points, 10 assists and 8.1 rebounds in his last nine games. The Lakers (49-13) have won 11 of 12 to close in on Milwaukee (53-12) for the league’s best record.
Just a few days earlier, the Bucks were potentially on pace to join the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls and 2015-16 Golden State Warriors as the only teams to win 70 games.
Those Warriors fell short of a title after Stephen Curry hurt his knee in the first round and never appeared to fully regain his rhythm after returning.
So, as long as Antetokounmpo’s injury is indeed minor, the Bucks will be glad it comes in March and not May.
And the Lakers will hopes James looks as good then as he does now.
“For me, I prepare myself, both my body and my mind, to endure anything even at this stage of my career,” the 35-year-old James said. “I know what it needs, what it takes for me to be prepared mentally and physically to go out and perform at a high level and it’s my responsibility to put this team in a position to be successful.”
GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK
Utah at Oklahoma City, Wednesday. The Thunder’s surge into fifth place makes this a possible playoff preview.
