LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida, USA (AP) – LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were somewhat rusty. It was taken from them just before the meeting was over.
Anthony Davis scored 34 points, James hit the lead with 12.8 seconds to play, and the Lakers came very close to securing first place in the Western Conference for the playoffs, outscoring 103-101 on Thursday. the Clippers from the same city.
It was the second game of the day that marked the resumption of the season in the NBA, interrupted more than four months by the coronavirus pandemic.
James totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers to stand six and a half games ahead of the Clippers themselves in the West, with seven commitments remaining.
Kyle Kuzma added 16 units.
Paul George had 30 points for the Clippers, while Kawhi Leonard had 28.
The Clippers held an 11-point lead midway through the third period of a streak and cartwheel encounter. They gained that advantage after a 26-5 attack.
But the Lakers responded immediately with a 36-14 offense to regain control.
And still, it all came down to the last moments.
George hit a triple with 1:50 minutes to play, to reduce the Lakers’ lead to 99-98. James displayed his strength to advance and score on a layup during the next possession.
Then George contributed another three-point shooting that equaled the game at 101 with 29 seconds remaining.
James missed from the alley but claimed with the basket of the advantage. He looked defensive, taking a ball from Leonard and covering a triple attempt by George, which was unsuccessful just as the buzzer sounded.
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