LeBron James received an anti-inflammatory injection in his back this week, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal's Jason Lloyd, and is not expected to play again in the preseason.
James received a similar shot last January when he was shut down for two weeks due to various nagging injuries. However, the superstar is not expected to miss any regular-season games to start this season.
With Cavs having a depleted roster due to injuries, steps being taken to have James prepared for season. Has had these shots in back before
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 16, 2015
James had a stiff back and apparently received the shot this past Tuesday, when he was sent home sick before a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks - a game he wasn't supposed to play in anyway. He also sat out of Thursday's exhibition with the Indiana Pacers, and head coach David Blatt said it's fully possible that James won't play again this preseason.
"We’ll see what happens at the beginning of next week," Blatt said. "I certainly don't expect him to play both games and I don’t know if he'll even play one. We'll see."
The Cavaliers only have two preseason games left - at the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, and home against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Because they are meaningless games on back-to-back nights, it's highly unlikely James would play in both games. There have already been reports that Cleveland intends to regulate the soon-to-be 31-year-old's minutes this season, after a historic usage rate in last spring's playoffs.
Cleveland opens the regular season against the Chicago Bulls as part of the season-opening TNT doubleheader on Oct. 27.
