LeBron Will Not Play Tonight

By Randy Renner

For a chnage this season the Thunder have gotten a break when it comes to injuries...Canvs superstar LeBron James will miss tonight's game with a sore knee. It's the first time this season James has been forced to sit out. 

"He didn't feel good this morning, so we kept him out of shootaround," said Cleveland head coach David Blatt just before the game. "We don't believe we have any kind of serious situation on our hands. He just has some general soreness, we're just being cautious."

Tonight's game has attracted a huge throng of national and intenational media and of course a national TV audience for the TNT telecast. Much of the attraction revolved around the individual matchup of James going up against his good friend and Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. 

"There's no desire on our part to disappoint anyone," Blatt said. "It's just the reality of the NBA season." 

The Cavs had indicated before the season started they would likey cut back some on the minutes James plays, but until tonight he's not missed a game nor has he played fewer minutes.

James absence will change things up quite a bit for Cleveland. Matthew Dellavedova will be the new guy in the lineup but he will play point guard. Kyrie Irving slides over to shooting guard and Shawn Marion moves over to LeBron's position at small forward.

Click back after the game, our full InsideThunder.com crew is here and we'll reaction from inside the lockerroom.