LeBron James bloodied, leaves win
— -- LeBron James left the Miami Heat's 103-81 win Thursday night at Oklahoma City in the fourth quarter after he was struck by Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka on a drive to the basket, leaving him face-down on the court, bleeding from the face.
James, who had 33 points before his exit, drove to the basket with under six minutes to play and, after being caught in the face by Ibaka's wrist as he went up for a dunk -- which he finished, fell to the floor before a steady stream of blood began to pour from his nose.
James, who the Heat said would not speak to the media after the game, passed a concussion test and was set to have an X-ray on his injured nose, according to the Turner Sports broadcast.
He sat in his locker with a white towel covering his entire head and face until most of the media left the room, when he still appeared to be woozy.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, talking to reporters after the game, said James' nose was sore and would be evaluated when the team returns to Miami. There was no indication James has a serious injury, the coach said.
"He got hit pretty good down there," Spoelstra said.
James was already apparently on social media and poking fun at himself just a few hours after the game, alluding to a villain in Batman whose trademark look features a postapocalyptic facemask.
I mean I just might have to...BaneJames #StriveForGreatness http://t.co/XHlHnArbWG
- LeBron James (@KingJames) February 21, 2014
Heat guard Dwyane Wade, in a postgame interview with TNT, said he didn't think James would be out long.
"Biggest thing he said was, 'Is it broke?' " Wade said. "But hopefully it's not and he'll be back."
Information from ESPN.com's Michael Wallace was used in this report.
I mean I just might have to...BaneJames #StriveForGreatness http://t.co/XHlHnArbWG
Heat guard Dwyane Wade, in a postgame interview with TNT, said he didn't think James would be out long.
"Biggest thing he said was, 'Is it broke?' " Wade said. "But hopefully it's not and he'll be back."
Information from ESPN.com's Michael Wallace was used in this report.