LeBron James orchestrated his biggest fourth-quarter comeback in his two-decade profession on Wednesday, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers from a 21-point deficit to a 116-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 39-year-old NBA legend delivered 34 factors, a powerful 19 of which got here within the last quarter, main the Lakers to an exhilarating win over their in-form metropolis rivals at Crypto.com Arena.
It was yet one more exceptional efficiency from the age-defying James, who, together with the Lakers, appeared destined for a powerful defeat after the Clippers surged to a commanding 98-77 lead early within the last interval.
However, a decided James spearheaded the Lakers’ unimaginable comeback, outscoring the Clippers 39-16 within the fourth quarter to safe the win.
“The game is not ever over until it’s double zeroes (on the play clock),” James advised an on-court interviewer after the win.
James was backed by 20 factors and 12 rebounds from Anthony Davis, whereas D’Angelo Russell added 18 and Rui Hachimura 13.
Kawhi Leonard topped the Clippers’ scoring with 26 factors.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue took accountability for the loss.
“When you’re up 21 points, you can’t lose a game like that,” Lue mentioned. “I don’t think that’s ever happened since I’ve been coaching – to lose a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter.”
In different video games on Wednesday, Nikola Jokic bagged his fourth straight triple-double because the Denver Nuggets overpowered the Sacramento Kings 117-96.
Two-time former NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic completed with 14 factors, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to bag his nineteenth triple of the season.
The Serbian star had entered the sport going through an intriguing duel with Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, who has been in blistering kind for the reason that All-Star break with three consecutive triple-doubles.
But Sabonis was successfully bottled up by Denver because the Nuggets staged an outstanding second-quarter rally to show the sport round after trailing by 15 factors.
Sacramento, lacking injured playmaker De’Aaron Fox, had swept right into a 47-32 result in increase hopes of a morale-boosting street victory.
Denver fightback
Denver roared again with a 21-4 run to regain management with Jamal Murray, who completed with 32 factors, which was excellent because the Nuggets opened up a 65-55 halftime lead on the break.
Denver outscored Sacramento 35-17 within the third quarter earlier than coasting to victory by a 21-point margin.
The win leaves reigning NBA champions Denver third within the Western Conference with a 40-19 report, whereas Sacramento slipped to 33-25 in eighth place.
Elsewhere, Anthony Edwards shrugged off a lingering ankle harm to attain 34 factors because the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves overcame cussed resistance from the struggling Memphis Grizzlies to grind out a 110-101 victory.
Memphis (20-38) had surged into an early 14-point lead within the first quarter and in addition led by double digits within the third earlier than Minnesota hit again to assert their forty second win of the season.
Edwards led the Wolves’ scoring with 34 factors, whereas 4 different Minnesota gamers reached double figures.
In Toronto, Luka Doncic celebrated his twenty fifth birthday with a 30-point triple-double because the Dallas Mavericks bounced again from Tuesday’s shattering buzzer-beater defeat to Cleveland with a 136-125 win over the Raptors.
A high-scoring first half noticed Toronto sneak right into a 67-66 lead on the break earlier than Doncic sparked a 40-point third quarter to take the guests out of attain.
Doncic scored 15 of his 30 factors within the third quarter, ending the sport with 16 assists and 11 rebounds to finish his triple-double.
“Just a normal game, a triple-double,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd mentioned of Doncic’s gem. “He was really good. Luka is our leader and he was really good tonight.”
Cleveland was unable to again up Tuesday’s win over Dallas of their street recreation in opposition to Chicago, the Bulls profitable 132-123 in double additional time.
Donovan Mitchell may have gained it for Cleveland as time expired within the first additional time interval, solely to see his 20-foot leap shot miss.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
