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Heat’s James questionable for Sunday
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Miami Heat star forward LeBron James did not practice Saturday because of the broken nose he sustained Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
James had surgery to repair the break on Friday but said he is still experiencing soreness and headaches.
The injury occurred when James was inadvertently hit in the face by Thunder center Serge Ibaka while James was driving to the basket with 5:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“Hopefully it’ll get better the next couple of days, hopefully it gets better the next day,” James said. “But if not, I’m not going to rush it. I feel better today than when it happened. I’m not bleeding. I’m a game-time decision, more probable than anything.”
James said he has not yet been fitted for a protective mask, but was expected to later Saturday.
James said he would not be able to play if the Heat had a game Saturday.
The only game James missed this season was a Dec. 28 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, when he sat out with a strained groin and sprained ankle. Michael Beasley started at small forward for Miami. Veteran Rashard Lewis could also be an option.
“We’ll just continue to reevaluate him,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He went to the doctor yesterday to get everything straightened out and corrected. He’s feeling better, not good enough to go. But we’ll have to see how he feels day by day. We’ll see if the swelling (subsides) and how he feels.”
