Watch: LeBron James Says He Re-Injured Groin After Patrick Beverley Knee

Lakers superstar LeBron James stacked 11 fourth-quarter points en route to 23 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, two steals and one block in the team’s 111-106 loss to Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center. LeBron’s efforts came despite taking a knock from Patrick Beverley early in the game. His groin was hit again.

“I felt healthy going into the game,” King James said. “The second or third defensive possession, I got kneed in the groin taking a charge from Pat Beverley. That kind of sent me back to where I was five days ago.”

Lakers’ LeBron James: “I felt healthy going into the game. The second or third defensive possession, I got kneed in the groin taking a charge from Pat Beverley. That kind of sent me back to where I was five days ago.” pic.twitter.com/KHWoCjyMZQ

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 26, 2019

Beverley was also able to block LeBron’s attempt to tie the game at 109 in the last seconds of the game.

Pat Bev with the clutch block on Bron to seal the game ?

(@RockstarGames) pic.twitter.com/HgZCOePchU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2019

LeBron sat out L.A.’s 128-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday due to a thoracic muscle strain. This is his first missed game of the regular season.

AGAINST Denver. LeBron suffered a muscle strain Tuesday at Indiana and played through it Thursday at Milwaukee. It's game No. 30 for the Lakers and the first James will miss this season … with a Christmas Day showdown against the Clippers looming

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 23, 2019

The 55 games LeBron played in 2018-19 are the fewest he has played in a season since entering the NBA in 2003. The three-time NBA champion was limited last season due to the groin injury he suffered on Christmas Day 2018. The king of basketball was officially shut down on March 30.

Lakers’ LeBron James on the late review w/ Clippers’ Patrick Beverley: “I was surprised by the overturn. I didn’t feel like the ball went off my hand. … If you look at slow motion 4, 5 or 10 times, you can always decide it’s a different call.” pic.twitter.com/8uFHvCGSTJ

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 26, 2019

So far in the regular season, LeBron had been playing in top 15-time All-Star shape. The three-time NBA MVP entered Wednesday’s game averaging 25.8 points, 10.6 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes.

Depending on how the king’s game might be affected by his groin injury moving forward, the bigger storyline from the highly-anticipated game will be Beverley’s block and the referees’ decision to award possession to Leonard’s team after reviewing the play.

“Beverley knocked the ball out of LeBron’s hands with 3.4 seconds left,” Mike Trudell tweeted. “He got switched over onto James when LAL needed a 3, not ideal since he had to put the ball on the floor. Refs reviewing if it tipped off James.”

“Call was overturned, and LAC were awarded possession. LAL don’t get a shot off with a chance to tie. Clippers ball up 3 with 3.6 seconds left.”