James rehabbed in Miami with Cavs’ permission

LeBron James took his rehab to South Beach this week.

While the Cleveland Cavaliers were playing host to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, the team’s star was heading to Miami while sidelined due to an ailing knee and back.

The Cavaliers confirmed Thursday that James had permission from general manager David Griffin and team doctor Richard Parker to leave the team Sunday and return Wednesday.

Cavaliers coach David Blatt explained James’ absence from the bench by saying, “He’s not supposed to be doing a lot of continuous sitting. That was really by design.”

Left unsaid was how James’ back was affected by a flight to Florida.

James spent four seasons with the Miami Heat before rejoining the Cavaliers as a free agent last summer.

James last played Dec. 28 against the Detroit Pistons. He missed his sixth game in a row — five of them Cleveland losses — when the Cavaliers fell 105-93 to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Cavs open a West Coast road trip in Oakland, Calif., against the Golden State Warriors on Friday. James will travel with the team but won’t play against the Warriors. He hopes to return later in the trip that includes games against the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

The four-time MVP said Wednesday, “I haven’t felt great all year. I’ve had spurts where one or two games I felt good and after that I was just pushing through it. I’ve been a competitive guy and want to be out there for my teammates. I feel better right now than I’ve felt for the majority of the season.”

James ranks second in the NBA this season with an average of 25.2 points per game.