On Wednesday, LeBron James faced one of the toughest shooting nights of his career but delivered when it mattered most. In a thrilling contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers, James secured a victory with a last-second tip-in after Luka Dončić’s floater missed its mark, resulting in a final score of 120-119. This win not only ended the Lakers’ three-game losing streak but also halted the Pacers’ five-game winning streak.
Entering the fourth quarter with only three points and having gone 0-for-6 from the field, this marked the first time in his illustrious 1,553-game career that he had failed to score a field goal in the first three quarters. However, he quickly reversed the situation by scoring eight straight points early in the final frame, enabling the Lakers to reclaim a substantial 13-point lead. Although the Pacers fought back and took the lead in the last minute, James remained unfazed. His dramatic tip-in with just 0.2 seconds on the clock highlighted his clutch performance and tied him with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson for the second-most career game-winners in NBA history at eight, trailing only Michael Jordan’s nine.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised James for his composure, stating, “It’s hard to win against a great team like Indiana. Frankly, they don’t ever get talked about enough nationally. They’re a phenomenal basketball team.” James finished the game with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, continuing his remarkable streak of scoring at least 10 points in every game since January 5, 2007.
Rui Hachimura was also instrumental, contributing 14 points and hitting two critical three-pointers in the final moments of the fourth quarter. Despite a hectic conclusion, the Lakers secured the win, advancing to 44-28 and solidifying their standing in the tightly contested Western Conference. As the regular season approaches its end with only 10 games remaining, the Lakers will need to focus on their health and finding their rhythm as they prepare for the playoff push.
Image Source: LeBron James @ Instagram
