Lakers to sit James vs. Warriors, citing 'load management'

After playing just one game in his return from a groin injury, Lakers forward LeBron James will sit out Los Angeles' Saturday game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., due to what the team termed as "load management." James was out for 17 games before coming back to play 40 minutes Thursday in the Lakers' 123-120 overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The four-time NBA MVP compiled 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists but afterward said he was at only 80 percent. Lakers coach Luke Walton said that James "woke up pretty sore" after that contest.

"We've got a couple days until our next game, so just load management,'' Walton said of the reason for James' Saturday rest. "He was going to come here and kind of feel, get a workout in and see how he felt before making a final decision.'' During James' injury absence, the Lakers went 6-11 and fell out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.

James is averaging 27.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 35 games. Entering the game at Golden State, the Lakers were 1 1/2 games behind the Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

--Field Level Media

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