LeBron James may have had one of the worst shooting performances of his career on Wednesday, but when it mattered most, he delivered. With the Los Angeles Lakers locked in a thrilling battle with the Indiana Pacers, James secured a 120-119 victory with a game-winning tip-in at the buzzer, off a missed floater from Luka Dončić. The victory not only ended a three-game losing streak for the Lakers but also halted the Pacers’ five-game win streak.
James entered the fourth quarter with only three points on 0-for-6 shooting, marking the first time in his 1,553-game career he hadn’t scored a field goal through the first three quarters. However, he quickly turned things around, scoring eight straight points early in the final frame, helping the Lakers reclaim a 13-point lead. Despite a late-game surge from the Pacers, who took the lead with under a minute left, James remained composed and ready for the moment. His buzzer-beating tip-in with 0.2 seconds left was a testament to his clutch ability, tying him with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson for the second-most career game-winners in NBA history (eight), trailing only Michael Jordan (nine).
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised James for his composure, saying, “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 with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, extending his remarkable streak of scoring 10 or more points in every game since January 5, 2007.
Rui Hachimura also played a crucial role, scoring 14 points and hitting two key three-pointers late in the fourth quarter. Despite the chaotic ending, the Lakers came out on top, improving to 44-28 and holding steady in the competitive Western Conference standings. With just 10 games remaining, the Lakers will need to stay healthy and regain their rhythm to be prepared for the playoff push.
