Lakers foward LeBron James. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA fans did not buy it when LeBron James appeared to hurt his shoulder as the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Playoffs.
When NBA fans look back at Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs between the Suns and Lakers, they’ll probably call it the “Shoulder Game.”
Chris Paul had to come out of the game briefly after a first-half shoulder injury. In the second half, LeBron James also hurt his shoulder during a sequence that ended with a scuffle on the court between Phoenix and LA players.
It all started when Paul challenged James on a rebound.
Was it a foul?
Remember, it’s the playoffs. Friends don’t exist in the playoffs.
Many people on Twitter weren’t entirely convinced that James had been fouled hard enough to fall like that or that he hurt himself that bad.
NBA Twitter accused LeBron James of flopping
Plenty wondered if the Lakers star was embellishing a bit.
Even fans who like LeBron weren’t defending him this time.
It was quite a coincidence that both Paul and James had shoulder problems in the game.
Of course, the difference in response to the injuries was undeniable.
Like Paul before him, James recovered from the issue well enough to make it back on the court after a short absence.
The incident resulted in a slew of fouls after a coming together between Cameron Payne and Alex Caruso. Caruso and Montezl Harrell got technical fouls while Payne was ejected for two technicals.
The Suns got the 99-90 victory in the end. Perhaps hindered as a shooter following his injury, Paul finished with seven points but had four rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block. James had 18 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.