After a tough defeat from Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James walked off the court with a limp which got fans worried about the team’s upcoming performances. 

Lakers superstar James exited for the NBA champions in the second quarter after appearing to roll his right ankle in a collision with Atlanta’s Solomon Hill.

James went down in the court, gripping his right ankle in pain before came back into the game with the injury still fresh. 

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He later had to walk off the court as the impact on the ankle started to settle in, with pain turned into anger as he knocked over a chair outside the court in frustration. 

Any serious injury to James would be a devastating blow to the Lakers, who are already without star Anthony Davis due to a long-term injury.

James and Davis were the key figures in the Lakers’ championship-winning season last year.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel was unable to provide details of James’ injury following the game as reports said the star was undergoing an MRI scan.

“He’s got an ankle injury, and that’s all the information I have at this time,” Vogel said.

The Lakers coach admitted James’ injury would be a challenge but backed his team to adjust to the star’s absence.

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“It’s certainly going to be a challenge any time you’re undermanned,” Vogel said. “But if you play team first basketball and you defend at our level you’ll have a chance to win and that’ll be our mindset.

“Anytime any guy is out you adjust and play with the guys that are in there. This will be no different.

The Lakers went on to lose the game 99-94 as the red-hot Hawks extended their winning streak to eight games.

John Collins led the scoring for Atlanta with 27 points and 16 rebounds while Danilo Gallinari added 18 off the bench.

Montrezl Harrell top-scored for the Lakers in James’s absence, with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Vogel meanwhile declined to comment on the mood in the Lakers locker room over James’ injury.

“The mood of the team is that we’re disappointed we’re lost,” Vogel said. “I won’t disclose what LeBron was like internally. We keep that in-house.”

Lakers team-mates Kyle Kuzma and Harrell admitted that the sight of James leaving the arena was unnerving.

“He’s one of these guys who takes care of his body to an extreme amount,” Harrell said. “He has all the high-tier recovery gear. He eats, sleeps and prepares his body right. He’s the first one in this arena on gameday, and he’s the first one at the facility on practice days.

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“We do forget he’s human sometimes, to see him in pain like that.”

Kuzma meanwhile said he didn’t have a clear view of the incident that injured James but added: “I haven’t seen him scream like that, ever. It had to hurt a little bit, for sure.”

The Hawks moved up in the Eastern Conference rankings with a 22-20 in the standings while the Lakers dipped to 28-14 and continued to retain their position in the Western Conference standings.