Cavaliers star LeBron James was accidentally elbowed in the face by Houston's Dikembe Mutombo late in the first half of Wednesday night's game and had to be helped from the floor.
James, on defense and moving across the lane, was leveled by Mutombo. He immediately dropped to the floor, covered his eyes and kicked his feet in obvious pain while play continued.
When Houston scored, the officials stopped play and Cleveland's medical staff rushed out to help James. He had to be assisted off the court, leaving near Houston's bench and taken through the nearest exit to Cleveland's locker room.
Early in the third quarter, the Cavs said James had bruised the orbital bone around his left eye and would not return.
James, who turns 20 on Thursday, is averaging 25.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists for the first-place Cavaliers. He scored three points in Cleveland's 98-87 loss.
He was having such a great year. I hope this injury doesn't keep him out for long, and his birthday is tomorrow.
