updated 5:17 p.m. ET April 24, 2007

CLEVELAND - LeBron James didn’t practice. He did promise to play.

Resting his sprained left ankle for another day, James was kept out of Tuesday’s workouts as the Cleveland Cavaliers prepared for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series against the Washington Wizards.

“I’ll be ready,” James said.

During the 15-minute segment of practice open to the media, James stood on the baseline and watched as his teammates took jump shots. He did try a few free throws, but that was it.

James twisted his ankle in Game 1 on Sunday when he stepped on the foot of Wizards center Etan Thomas on a third-quarter drive. Although he was in serious pain, James stayed on the floor and finished with 23 points in Cleveland’s 97-82 win. Game 2 is Wednesday at Cleveland.

He sustained a Grade 2 sprain — on a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being the worst — but said this sprain wasn’t as bad as others he’s had.

James was slowed earlier this season by a sprained big toe and he has battled tendinitis in his knee. He was beginning to feel completely healthy when he got hurt again.

“I’m about 85 percent, maybe,” he said. “Not where I want to be.”

James twisted his ankle while wearing a new style of sneaker, the latest model in his sponsor’s line that he unveiled for the playoffs. He’s not thinking of switching sneakers, and can only wonder what would have happened had he been wearing the shoes of a rival company.

“I probably would have broken my ankle,” he said.

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