Miami Heat forward LeBron James grimaces as he lies on the floor with a bloody nose in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. AP FILE PHOTO
MIAMI – Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James was held out of Miami’s home game on Sunday against Chicago with a broken nose he suffered against Oklahoma City on Thursday.
The Heat’s superstar forward torched the Thunder for 33 points to go along with seven rebounds in a 103-81 win, but departed late in the game after he was hit in the face by Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka on a driving dunk.
James had been questionable leading up to Sunday’s game against the Bulls, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed less than two hours before tip-off that he would sit out.
“The fact that we don’t play (again) until Thursday, it makes the most sense,” Spoelstra said.
James is leading the Heat with an average 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 52 games this season.