LeBron Can’t Seal The Deal For Lakers At Home In OT
When it’s winning time, LeBron James showed his new team and a sellout crowd at the Staples Center his value in those moments.
Good and bad.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night at the Staples Center to fall to 0-3.
LeBron James finished the game with 32 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds with one steal and one block in 43 minutes.
Coming down the floor with under 10 seconds to go, LeBron James would bury a 3-pointer at the top of the key over Rudy Gay to tie the game with 2.4 seconds remaining to send it to overtime.
James scored or assisted on five of Los Angeles’ six baskets in overtime, but it’s what happened with time winding down in the game that will be remembered.
Nursing a one-point lead in the final seconds of the overtime after a Rudy Gay three-pointer, LeBron James missed two critical free throws.
Coming off a pin down screen, Patty Mills would give San Antonio the lead with 6.8 seconds remaining in overtime.
James would miss a stepback jumper over Rudy Gay as the clock hit zero for the Lakers, who are still searching for their first victory.
The Los Angeles Lakers erased a eight-point deficit in the final 70 seconds of regulation, but that is all for naught following their latest setback.
In need a co-star on the night as they were shorthanded, Kyle Kuzma gave the Lakers that with a game-high 37 points to go along with eight rebounds in 45 minutes.
The Los Angeles Lakers were without Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo as both players began their suspensions for their role in a physical altercation in last Saturday’s game vs the Houston Rockets.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have to clean up their defense, but there will be enough time for the team to get that done.
The Lakers sellout crowd went from erupting after a and-one by LeBron James with 55.6 seconds remaining to leaving the Staples Center with a bitter taste in their mouth.
LeBron James was less than a minute away from giving Lakers fans their first true moment to remember.
A persistent Spurs team and huge misses down the stretch however robbed Lakers fans of being able to embrace in what would’ve been LeBron James’ first win as a Laker.
The Kobe Bryant apologists will be out in full force following this game, but that isn’t as newsworthy as Los Angeles blowing a six-point lead in the final minute as the coach Gregg Popovich’s used a 7-0 run to end the game.
LaMarcus Aldridge (37 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) and DeMar Derozan (32 points, 14 assists, 8 rebounds) led the way for the San Antonio Spurs, who improved to 2-1.
The Los Angeles Lakers shot 51 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range as they 14 on the night.
They allowed the San Antonio Spurs to shoot 51 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point range as they hit 15 during the game.
The Lakers once again lost the free throw battle as the San Antonio Spurs short 28-for-38 from the free throw line compared to Los Angeles’ 18-for-26.
Los Angeles trailed by as many as 17 points in the first quarter, but fought their way back into the game. That fight is something that coach Luke Walton is hoping to see when the Lakers next take the floor.
The Los Angeles Lakers, looking to get their first win of the season, will visit Talking Stick Resort Arena to face the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers loss on Monday night? Leave your comments below!
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