In a thrilling showdown, LeBron James clinched the win for the Los Angeles Lakers just as time was about to expire, breaking their losing streak with a nail-biting victory against the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers were clinging to a narrow one-point advantage with only 42 seconds left on the clock. But James swooped in at the last possible moment to tip in a missed shot by Luka Doncic, sealing a dramatic 120-119 victory in Indianapolis.
Interestingly, James didn’t score a field goal until the game’s final quarter, yet he wrapped up the night with a solid 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists to his name.
“He’s a prime example of a player who might start slow offensively, but he more than makes up for it with his defensive prowess and turns it on when it matters most,” said Lakers coach J.J. Redick. “The basketball gods rewarded his relentless effort and refusal to give up.”
This triumph bumps the Lakers, who stand fourth in the Western Conference, to a record of 44-28, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Doncic also had an impressive showing, chalking up 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for the Lakers. Teammates Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura added 24 and 14 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the action elsewhere saw the Washington Wizards breaking their own five-game losing stretch, securing a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Over in Toronto, the Raptors dominated the Brooklyn Nets with a commanding 116-86 win.
It was an equally remarkable night for Nikola Jokic, who scored 39 points and marked his 30th triple-double of the season. He led the Denver Nuggets to a 127-117 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in his return from injury. Similarly, the Boston Celtics kept their winning streak alive, stretching it to seven games, with a 132-102 triumph over the Phoenix Suns.
The Los Angeles Clippers kept their playoff dreams in sight, rebounding from a 14-point deficit to overcome the New York Knicks 126-113, boosting their record to 41-31.
In the Western Conference standings, the Golden State Warriors sit in seventh place, sharing the 41-win milestone, while the Minnesota Timberwolves follow closely in eighth with a 41-32 record.
