Just 48 hours earlier, he had scored a great goal against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 16 points in the span of just a few minutes early in the fourth quarter. That flurry allowed the Lakers to score 21 straight points and improve to 3-0 with a 131-127 victory.

James said after Monday’s game that he had been experiencing cold symptoms since Friday.

Los Angeles doesn’t play again until Wednesday and then visits the Cleveland Cavaliers, James’ former team. That should give him enough time to feel like his normal self again.

Was he using his symptoms as an excuse for his poor play on Monday, or was he simply answering a reporter’s question and being honest?