MIAMI – LeBron James will take a page from J.R. Smith and said he expects to suit up Thursday vs. the Knicks with a mask protecting his broken nose. Like Smith, James also admits the mask is not easy to adjust to.
James missed Sunday’s game vs. the Bulls to rest his sore beak, and sat out the contact portion of practice Tuesday.
“I think it’s too soon (to practice) but I feel like I should be fine enough to go on Thursday,” James told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “Obviously we’re going to play it day by day. The headaches are calming down. Morning time and night are always difficult.”
James will don a mask during Wednesday’s final practice leading into the nationally televised showdown against the moribund Knicks, who are dealing with a multitude of problems from masks to gun charges. Smith has worn a mask for his broken cheekbone the past five games and has complained. James admitted it’s not the best fit but wore it before in Cleveland when he broke is cheekbone early in his career.
“I won’t change my game because of the mask,” James said. “I’ll probably be a little tentative when I first get out there but I think I’ll get used to it.
“It’s a difficult challenge,” James added. “It’s like somebody constantly has a hand in your face. It’s like an added defender you don’t want.”