LOS ANGELES — Even coming off a loss that dropped the Lakers one spot in the Western Conference standings, Lakers coach JJ Redick was encouraged by one of his star’s performances as the Lakers turned their attention to Friday’s home game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
LeBron James had his best performance since returning from the groin injury that sidelined him for two weeks in Thursday’s home loss to the Golden State Warriors.
James finished with 33 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
He shot 10 for 15 from the field, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range, after shooting 43.4% from the field and 22.7% from behind the arc in his previous six games since returning from the injury.
“It was encouraging,” Redick said Thursday night. “The biggest thing was just the aggressiveness. Doing both putting pressure on the rim and the shooting was great and that’s a big sign because he’s turned down some shots lately and he’s been so good all year at both. We need him as a driver and we need him as a shooter.”
James scored 25 of his points on 8-of-11 shooting (3 for 5 from 3-point range) with six assists and three rebounds in the second half.
His scoring total for the game was the most he has had since returning from the groin injury that sidelined him from March 9-21.
“That was the best I’ve felt since before the injury, for sure,” James said. “I just tried to press, get downhill. My rhythm, as far as my jump shot, felt pretty good. I have been shooting it from the free-throw line extremely well as of late. But that was probably the best physically I’ve felt, so hopefully I can build off of that.”
HACHIMURA OUT
Starting forward Rui Hachimura wasn’t available for Friday’s game, ruled out because of left patellar tendinopathy – an injury that sidelined Hachimura for three weeks from late February to late March.
Redick said Hachimura’s absence is part of his return process.
Hachimura hasn’t played in both games of a back-to-back set since returning in the home loss to the Chicago Bulls on March 22.
The Lakers have one more back-to-back set – at Oklahoma City on Tuesday and Dallas on Wednesday – before the regular season ends.
Hachimura has acknowledged that his knee isn’t 100% and likely won’t be until he can rest for a more prolonged period.
“Just gotta deal with it,” Hachimura said on March 29. “Can’t really … right away, can’t fix it. I think minutes too, we talk about it. The medical staff and coaching has been communicating about it, the minutes and all that so yeah I think I’m comfortable with that and yeah I think just gonna see you know and I just I want to be ready for the playoffs so I think we’re on the right track.”
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