Miami Heat forward LeBron James holds a towel over his face as he walks off the court with a bloody nose during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. James was struck by Thunder’s Serge Ibaka on a drive to the basket. Heat guard Dwyane Wade is at right. Miami won 103-81. AP
MIAMI — LeBron James has a broken nose, and his availability for the Miami Heat on Sunday against Chicago will be a game-time decision.
The Heat announced the diagnosis after James’ injury was evaluated Friday. He missed the closing minutes of Thursday’s game at Oklahoma City when he was struck inadvertently by defender Serge Ibaka on a drive to the basket.
James finished with a dunk but then crumpled to the floor, blood gushing from his nose. He left the court with a towel over his face.
He passed a concussion test, but didn’t talk to reporters after the Heat’s victory, instead sitting in front of his locker with a towel draped over his head. The team was off Friday.