LeBron James gave Lakers fans a scare Friday night when he left the game against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter after reaching for a loose ball and grabbing at his groin. With the playoffs approaching, the sight sparked immediate fears of another injury setback.
LeBron left the game after an apparent groin injury 🙏 pic.twitter.com/mTGInMsfc3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 12, 2025
But those worries didn’t last long.
Head coach JJ Redick eased the tension after the game, assuring reporters that LeBron was “fine” and hadn’t suffered or re-aggravated any injury, according to Jovan Buha.
“JJ Redick says LeBron James is fine despite looking like he tweaked his left groin,” Buha wrote on X.
JJ Redick says LeBron James is fine despite looking like he tweaked his left groin.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 12, 2025
That reassurance matched what fans saw during the game – LeBron laughing, celebrating a teammate’s big play, and even moonwalking back to the bench. All signs pointed to precaution, not pain.
Can confirm, he indeed celebrated the Reaves step back by moonwalking back to the bench. No one worried about James suffering an injury that I spoke with https://t.co/Ttz3w2ZXT7
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) April 12, 2025
The Lakers were cruising with a 20-point lead for much of the second half, which likely made the decision to keep James out an easy one. There was no need to risk anything.
Los Angeles went on to beat the Rockets handily, locking in the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. With LeBron healthy and momentum on their side, the Lakers head into the postseason in high spirits, and high gear.
Lakers land timely break before playoffs, likely to rest LeBron in finale
The Lakers’ playoff push just got a boost, thanks to perfect timing. After beating the Rockets, they’ve locked in the No. 3 seed and, more importantly, earned over a week of rest before the postseason begins. That’s a big shift from past years when they faced tight turnarounds and even play-in games days before the playoffs.
This time, the pressure is off. With nothing riding on Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Trail Blazers, the Lakers are expected to rest LeBron James and other key players.
LeBron, now in his 22nd NBA season, has logged heavy minutes and could use the extra time to recharge. If he sits, he’ll finish the season averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds over 70 games.
The extended break comes at the right moment. It gives the team time to heal, reset, and enter the playoffs with fresh legs, something few contenders can claim.
As they wait to see who they’ll face in the first round, this stretch of rest could become a difference-maker in a deep playoff run.
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