The only Los Angeles Lakers starter who played well in their Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday was LeBron James. But he had a throwback performance that reminded everyone he’s still an elite player.
He made 13 of his 21 field-goal attempts and connected on five of his nine 3-point tries to score 38 points while adding 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks while committing only one turnover. Those 38 points were the most by any player in NBA playoff history who is at least 40 years of age.
James had suffered a hip flexor strain in L.A.’s penultimate regular season game earlier this month and played subpar basketball in the first two games of this series versus Minnesota. Head coach JJ Redick feels the superstar has largely recovered from that ailment.
JJ Redick said he thinks LeBron James is moving better each day and he needed about two weeks from his left hip flexor strain he suffered against Houston to begin looking more like himself.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 26, 2025
James had also suffered a groin strain in early March, and the fact that he wasn’t listed on the injury report for the last two games is a very good sign.
But Los Angeles needs other players to play up to their usual standards. So far in this series, it has had only one of its three stars play well while getting subpar or scant production from everyone else.
It trails this best-of-seven series two games to one and will play Game 4 early Sunday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick feels LeBron James is getting healthier
The only Los Angeles Lakers starter who played well in their Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday was LeBron James. But he had a throwback performance that reminded everyone he’s still an elite player.
He made 13 of his 21 field-goal attempts and connected on five of his nine 3-point tries to score 38 points while adding 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks while committing only one turnover. Those 38 points were the most by any player in NBA playoff history who is at least 40 years of age.
James had suffered a hip flexor strain in L.A.’s penultimate regular season game earlier this month and played subpar basketball in the first two games of this series versus Minnesota. Head coach JJ Redick feels the superstar has largely recovered from that ailment.
JJ Redick said he thinks LeBron James is moving better each day and he needed about two weeks from his left hip flexor strain he suffered against Houston to begin looking more like himself.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 26, 2025
James had also suffered a groin strain in early March, and the fact that he wasn’t listed on the injury report for the last two games is a very good sign.
But Los Angeles needs other players to play up to their usual standards. So far in this series, it has had only one of its three stars play well while getting subpar or scant production from everyone else.
It trails this best-of-seven series two games to one and will play Game 4 early Sunday afternoon.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick feels LeBron James is getting healthier
