LeBron James saved the day for the Los Angeles Lakers with a last-second tip-in, securing a thrilling 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The dramatic finish broke the Lakers’ three-game losing streak and ended the Pacers’ five-game winning run.
James’ game-winning basket came right at the buzzer. After Luka Doncic missed a floater, James reached out with his right hand and tipped the ball in with only 0.2 seconds left. The referees reviewed the play and confirmed the basket, sending the Lakers into celebration mode.
“I couldn’t show much emotion right away because I wasn’t sure if I got the ball off in time,” James said after the win. “But once they showed the replay, it felt amazing.”
Lakers Snap Skid with Last-Second Heroics
The win was crucial for the Lakers, who had struggled in recent games. It also marked a personal milestone for James. The buzzer-beater was his eighth career game-winner, tying him with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson for the second-most in NBA history. Only Michael Jordan has more, with nine.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves praised James’ effort, saying:
“It just shows what he’s about. He’s a winner at heart. That’s really it.”
The game itself was a rollercoaster. The Lakers led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers fought back. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 16 points and 18 assists, scored a key and-1 basket with 42 seconds left to give the Pacers a one-point lead.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick described the chaotic ending:
“It felt like a game we won three times and lost three times before finally winning it. It’s hard to win in the NBA, especially against a great team like Indiana.”
LeBron’s Late Impact After Slow Start
Interestingly, James had one of the quietest nights of his career for most of the game. Through three quarters, he scored only three points and missed all six of his shot attempts. According to ESPN Stats, it was the first time in his 1,553 regular-season games that he went scoreless from the field in the first three quarters while playing significant minutes.
But when the fourth quarter began, James flipped the switch. He scored eight of the Lakers’ first 10 points in the final period and extended his record streak to 1,283 straight games with 10 points or more.
James finished the game with 13 points, a team-high 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in 38 minutes. It was only his third game back after missing two weeks with a left groin strain.
“You don’t really know if you’re in a rhythm or out of rhythm with only six shot attempts,” James said. “But I tried to impact the game in other ways.”
Key Contributions from Lakers’ Supporting Cast
The Lakers’ win was a team effort. Luka Doncic led the scoring with 34 points, while Austin Reaves added 24 points. All five starters scored in double figures.
Forward Rui Hachimura also had a strong performance, contributing 14 points and four rebounds. He hit two crucial three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to give the Lakers a six-point cushion.
“Getting back to our rhythm as a team is not easy,” Hachimura said. “But we have about 10 games left, and we need to find that rhythm before the playoffs.”
The Lakers now hold a 44-28 record and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. They are one game behind the third-place Denver Nuggets and tied with the fifth-place Memphis Grizzlies.
Upcoming Schedule and Playoff Push
The Lakers’ four-game road trip continues Thursday with a back-to-back game against the Chicago Bulls. They will wrap up the trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
James stressed the importance of every second in the final stretch of the season:
“The game is never over until the clock hits zero, literally, like tonight. We just have to keep our composure.”
For the Pacers, the loss was a heartbreaker. They fought hard to erase the Lakers’ double-digit lead but fell short in the final seconds.
