LeBron James just proved why he's still the best player in the NBA.
As the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers dueled in their first games of the NBA's restart, James nailed the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining in regulation. The four-time MVP missed his first attempt, but grabbed the rebound and put it back in to give the Lakers a secure 103-101 victory.
LeBron follows his miss for the @Lakers game-winning basket! #LakeShow #WholeNewGame
Final in Orlando:@LAClippers 101@Lakers 103 pic.twitter.com/WkGpwyli6v
— NBA (@NBA) July 31, 2020
The shot came just one possession after Paul George nailed the game-tying 3-pointer with 28.4 seconds remaining.
Lakers fans had to hold their breaths in the final possession, as the red-hot George still had an opportunity to steal the victory in the closing seconds.
But The King once again came up big in the clutch — this time getting it done on the other end of the floor.
LeBron James initially defended Kawhi Leonard in the final possession, before quickly acknowledging the pick and switched to George. The 35-year-old megastar shadowed George perfectly and forced the PG13 to take an off-balanced triple as the buzzer sounded.
George's heave clanked off the rim as the Lakers evened their season series with their crosstown rivals at two wins apiece.
James shrugged off a slow start to finish with 16 points on 6-for-19 shooting from the field and 2-for-7 from deep, along with 11 boards, seven dimes, one steal, and one block. Anthony Davis led the way for the Purple and Gold with a monstrous 34-point performance.
With the resounding win, the Lakers held a firm clamp to the best record in the Western Conference at 49-14. They will play the defending champions Toronto Raptors next on Sunday.
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