LeBron James delivered another clutch moment, tipping in a game-winning layup at the buzzer to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
James, who struggled to find his shot until the fourth quarter, still made his presence felt with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, helping the Lakers (44-28) snap a three-game losing streak.
Lakers Edge Out Pacers in Nail-Biting Finish
With five minutes left, Los Angeles trailed by three before going on an 11-2 run. Indiana responded with a 7-0 surge, reclaiming a 119-118 lead with 42 seconds remaining.
After Bennedict Mathurin missed a crucial three-pointer, the Lakers had one last opportunity. Luka Dončić’s floater bounced off the rim, but James was there to tip it in just before the final buzzer.
- Luka Dončić led the Lakers with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
- Austin Reaves chipped in 24 points, while Rui Hachimura added 14.
- Indiana (42-30) saw Mathurin score 23 points off the bench.
- Tyrese Haliburton posted a double-double with 16 points and 18 assists, and Myles Turner contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Other NBA Matchups
Wizards 119, 76ers 114 – Washington Ends Five-Game Skid
The Washington Wizards snapped a five-game losing streak with a road win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Alex Sarr led the charge with 24 points.
- Justin Champagnie recorded a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds).
- Jordan Poole contributed 18 points and seven assists.
For the struggling 76ers, now on a six-game losing streak:
- Quentin Grimes led with 22 points.
- Guerschon Yabusele added 21 points and eight rebounds.
- Justin Edwards recorded his first career double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds).
Raptors 116, Nets 86 – Toronto Dominates Brooklyn
The Toronto Raptors secured their biggest win of the season, crushing the Brooklyn Nets by 30 points.
- Orlando Robinson stepped up in place of Jakob Poeltl, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
- Jonathan Mogbo provided 16 points off the bench, while R.J. Barrett and Scottie Barnes each tallied 15 points.
Brooklyn’s struggles continued with their fifth straight loss:
- Nic Claxton had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
- Ziaire Williams finished with 13 points.
- The Nets committed 20 turnovers, leading to 30 points for Toronto.
Nuggets 127, Bucks 117 – Jokic’s Triple-Double Leads Denver to Victory
Returning after a five-game absence, Nikola Jokić wasted no time making an impact, recording his 30th triple-double of the season in Denver’s home win over Milwaukee.
- Jokić finished with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points and 10 rebounds.
- Christian Braun contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamal Murray had 17 points.
The Bucks, missing both Giannis Antetokounmpo (foot sprain) and Damian Lillard (deep vein thrombosis), were led by:
- Brook Lopez (26 points).
- Ryan Rollins (17 points off the bench).
- Gary Trent Jr. (16 points).
Clippers 126, Knicks 113 – Harden & Leonard Lead L.A. to Victory
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 56 points, helping the Los Angeles Clippers sink the New York Knicks.
- Harden scored 29 points, hitting 6-of-9 from three-point range.
- Leonard nearly had a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
- The Clippers shot 16-of-30 from beyond the arc.
For the Knicks, now missing Jalen Brunson for the 10th straight game:
- Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 34 points and 14 rebounds.
- OG Anunoby had 28 points.
- Mikal Bridges finished with 17 points and nine assists.
Final Thoughts
LeBron James proved once again why he’s one of the greatest with a game-winning buzzer-beater, Nikola Jokić delivered yet another triple-double, and the Clippers lit it up from deep to take down the Knicks. Meanwhile, the 76ers and Nets continue to struggle, while the Raptors, Nuggets, and Wizards bounced back with key wins.
Stay tuned for more NBA updates as the race for the playoffs heats up!
