SPORTING ALERT – LeBron James has declared himself fit for the start of the 2015-16 NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers scheduled to open at the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday’s opening night.
The game will also broadcast live on the TNT Network and streaming live on TNT Overtime, starting at 7:00 PM CT.
James sat out the Cavaliers’ last four preseason games with a lower back injury, but after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection to reduce the pain, the four-time MVP took part in full practice two days in a row and showed no signs of the problem.
He says he is feeling much better now and is looking forward to finally getting the show on the road in the visit to the United Center.
“I feel good,” James said after his workout session on Monday in Cleveland. “I’m ready to go. I’ll be active tomorrow.”
Cleveland will also have Kevin Love back to start the season after the star forward missed most of the playoffs with a dislocated left shoulder he suffered in the first round against the Boston Celtics.
Love returned to action late, but played back-to-back games to end the Cavs’ warmups.
“I did everything leading up to be ready for this,” he revealed. “My body feels good and now is just the time to get to work for the real thing.”
He is expecting a tough game on the road, but is backing the team to be ready.
“We’ll be on the road. It will be us, our traveling staff, our traveling team against those 20,000 fans and the Bulls, so it’s going to be a tough environment,” he said.
“When that ball goes in the air, I think we’ll be ready.”
Still out, though, is starting point guard Kyrie Irving, as he continues to recover from the surgery he underwent on a broken kneecap.
Fellow guard Iman Shumpert is also out injured with his right wrist.
Meanwhile, Derrick Rose will play for the Chicago Bulls and is not expected to be on restricted minutes.
The point guard was doubtful for the contest because he was still recovering from a left orbital fracture, but the Bulls is reporting that he will start the season opener.
Rose said he is ready to play, despite admitting that he is still having blurred vision.
“I was playing with one eye, and you can’t tell that I was playing with one eye,” he said. “In any profession, that’s just like you all with having just one arm or one hand, something like that, and typing.
“If you’re able to do it, you’re able to do it. If not, you’ve got to sit down.”
Defending champions Golden State Warriors will also get the defense of their NBA title underway on Tuesday night.
Stephen Curry and reigning champs will entertain the New Orleans Pelicans, a game that will stream live also on TNT Overtime and broadcast on the TNT Network, starting at 9:30 CT.
Tipping-off as well on Tuesday are the Atlanta Hawks against the Detroit Pistons at 7:00.
Tuesday, October 27
Live ESPN NBA Scoreboard, Box Scores
Detroit Atlanta 7:00 PM FSDT
Cleveland Chicago 7:00 PM TNT; TNT OVERTIME
New Orleans Golden State 9:30 PM TNT; TNT OVERTIME
