Apart from James' 39-minute workload against Golden State, the Lakers' travel day on Sunday, when a mechanical issue forced them to sit on the runway for two hours before changing planes for a nearly three-hour flight to San Antonio, did not help with recovery time, according to ESPN sources.
The Lakers are "hoping" that James will play in Houston on Wednesday, according to Vogel. After the loss to the Spurs, Vogel stated that James' knee is in better shape than when he was forced to sit out due to swelling.
"We don't believe it's that," stated Vogel. "We're hopeful that we'll be back in a day or two, and that he'll be ready for the Houston game."
With the Lakers, James' performance against the Warriors was his highest-scoring game and tied for third-highest in his 19-year career, as Los Angeles rallied from a 14-point deficit to win 124-116.
Any positive momentum gained as a result of the victory was short-lived. The Lakers' loss against the Spurs decreased their record to 28-36, putting them in ninth place in the Western Conference, barely a game ahead of the No. 10 New Orleans Pelicans and three games ahead of the No. 11 Portland Trail Blazers.
The Lakers used a 32nd different starting lineup against the Spurs, with Austin Reaves, Talon Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, and Russell Westbrook.
"No one will have to try to pick up where they left off," Vogel added."However, I did tell Malik that he needs to score 56 tonight because Bron isn't playing." He can try to have that mindset. And then I told him quickly that I was just kidding. Because he will actually go out and try to do that. But, it's the next man up, but when it's someone like LeBron, it has to be done by committee."
Monk scored 17 points, one less than Horton-team-high Tucker's 18, but shot just 8-for-22 from the field, including 1-for-7 from outside the arc.
"I got to hit a couple more shots, man," Monk said. "That is something for which I accept full responsibility. Not being LeBron, but taking a little load, a bit more of a load than I do when he's there."
As the Lakers battle for a spot in the play-in tournament over the final games of the regular season, Vogel was asked how he thinks James' knee will affect them down the stretch.
"I think the easiest way to say it is that unless his knee tells him otherwise, he's going to plan on being in," Vogel said. "I'm not sure we can foresee much more precisely than that."
