LeBron James remains a gametime decision for Sunday afternoon’s contest against the Chicago Bulls, but if he is able to go, he’s expected to have to play while wearing a protective mask.
James suffered a broken nose near the end of his MVP-like performance against the Thunder on Thursday, and said he wouldn’t have played had the Heat had a game on Saturday.
From the Associated Press:When asked how his nose felt, James said, “It has been better. It’s a little bit of everything - pain, headaches, whatever. I have to get past it and hopefully get better in the next day. I’m definitely not going to rush it.”
James was to be fitted for a protective mask and will likely wear it if he plays against the Bulls.
“It’s nothing you want to make long-term,” James said. “It’s very uncomfortable.”
James knows from experience. He wore a mask for a few weeks 10 years ago, after he broke his cheekbone hours before his 20th birthday in a game for Cleveland against Houston.As the video clip above proves, it will take a lot more than a mask for the Bulls (or anyone, really) to slow James, especially considering the way he’s taken things to another level over his last four games.
