LeBron James came up clutch for the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring the game-winning basket just before the buzzer to secure a dramatic 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The win ended the Lakers’ three-game losing streak and kept them fourth in the Western Conference with a 44-28 record.
Although James had a slow start, failing to score a field goal until the fourth quarter, he finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick praised James’ resilience: “He didn’t stop competing and got rewarded by the basketball gods.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers offensively with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Austin Reaves contributed 24 points, and Rui Hachimura added 14.
Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic returned from injury to inspire the Denver Nuggets with 39 points and his 30th triple-double of the season in a 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to seven games with a 132-102 triumph over the Phoenix Suns.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves continue to jostle for position in the tightly contested Western Conference playoff race, both sitting at 41 wins.
