LeBron James: Despite Ankle Issue, ‘I’ll Be Ready’ For Lakers’ Visit to Cavs

If there’s one game LeBron James never misses, it’s the drama and notoriety that come with a return trip to Cleveland.

And you can be sure James will play, and play particularly hard, when the Lakers pay their lone visit of the season to the Cavs on Tuesday.

This despite tweaking his ankle in a tie-up with forward Kyle Kuzma in Sunday’s win over the Wizards.

“I’ll be ready Tuesday,” James assured reporters, via Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register.

The Lakers (10-12) aren’t very good, but they’ve sure been a lot better lately. They are 2-0 on their six-game trip, kicking it off with a win at the mighty Bucks on Friday. 

While James has as usual been a factor, it’s most ben a result of the fantastic, MVP-level play of Anthony Davis — who scored 44 vs. Milwaukee, then 55 vs. the Wizards. So that would put him in line for 66 vs. the Cavs, right?

So Davis, James and the Lakers are coming in on a major roll.

“Our team is locked in right now,” Davis said, via the Associated Press. “Very focused on both sides of the ball. Overall, we’re just trying to make up ground.”

The Lakers are expected to start James, Davis, guards Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV, and continue to bring Russell Westbrook off the bench.

The Cavs (15-9) are coming off their worst performance of the season, a 92-81 road loss to the Knicks. They did beat LeBron and and the Lakers in LA last month, though. Cleveland is 10-1 at home.

James, 37, is averaging 26.1 points on 47 percent shooting, both down from last season, but also 8.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists.