LeBron a game-time decision
OKLAHOMA CITY -- LeBron James missed the Cleveland Cavaliers' morning shootaround Thursday in order to receive treatment on "general soreness" in his left knee, according to the team.
He will be a game-time decision when the Cavs attempt to extend their winning streak to nine games Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After sitting out several practices and exhibition games during the preseason for rest, James has played in all 20 of Cleveland's regular-season games up to this point, averaging 24.8 points, 7.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game.
"It's another opportunity for somebody to step up," said Kevin Love when asked about the possibility of James sitting out. "We know what we lose in LeBron, and this will be a great opportunity to see ourselves against one of the best Western Conference teams, despite their record. But it's just another opportunity, as I mentioned, for other guys to step up if he's out. If not, we'll go at full strength."
Kyrie Irving didn't even want to entertain the thought of the Cavs playing without James, however.
"It would be big piece missing if he doesn't play, but hopefully [he does]," Irving said. "Right now, he's in our lineup, and we can go get it tonight. It will be a good matchup for all of us. But if he can't, then we'll have to adjust and we'll have to take it upon ourselves -- our bench has to play big, including myself we all have to play bigger -- just to fill that void if he can't play."
Cavs coach David Blatt hinted during training camp that he might schedule rest for James throughout the season.
"Certainly could," Blatt said then. "It's not specifically planned at this point. In other words, we didn't sit down and already write up a plan for what game he would miss or what practice he would miss, but it could [happen] depending on need."
Blatt did not speak to reporters at shootaround Thursday.
James, who turns 30 later this month and is in his 12th season, is averaging 38.0 minutes per game this season, which is second-most in the league behind Chicago's Jimmy Butler and the most James played in any season since 2010-11 -- his first season with the Miami Heat.
