PHOENIX — LeBron James grimaced as he jogged back with a slight limp to the visitor's locker room at Footprint Center late Friday night.
But not even a painful shin injury suffered in the first quarter could spoil this night for James, who had 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to overcome Kevin Durant and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their first in-season tournament victory, 122-119, over the Phoenix Suns.
Once again, James and Durant engaged in an epic duel with Durant finishing with 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Durant scored seven of his points in the fourth but James found Cam Reddish in the corner for an open 3 that gave the Lakers a 118-113 lead with 1:10 left that Phoenix couldn't overcome.
James also had to shake off an unintentional blow he took from Durant on a drive to the basket with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter when Durant's knee hit James in the left shin.