LeBron James, at 40 years old, faced a challenge Wednesday night as he entered the fourth quarter with the possibility of ending his record streak of consecutive games with double-digit scoring. But, as always, James delivered when it mattered most.
In a thrilling finish, James scored the final 13 points for the Los Angeles Lakers, including a buzzer-beating tip-in, to give them a 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers. This basket extended his record streak to 1,283 consecutive games with at least 10 points, an achievement that James humbly downplayed.
“It’s whatever it takes to help your teammates win,” he said after the game. “I’ve always built my game to be three-dimensional, focusing on rebounding, defending, and making sure my teammates are involved.”
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, contributed more than just his points. Despite struggling with his shot—he made only 4 of 12 field goals and missed all three of his 3-point attempts—he grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. This all-around performance nearly resulted in a triple-double.
The Pacers had their moments too. They managed to keep James quiet for most of the game, holding him to just three points and zero field goals through the first three quarters. By the time the game entered the final period, the Pacers had closed the gap, trailing only by 3 points, 95-92.
However, James came alive early in the fourth quarter, scoring quickly and helping the Lakers build a 105-92 lead. But the Pacers fought back, and with 42.2 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton’s three-point play gave Indiana a 119-118 lead.
Just when it seemed like the Pacers might pull off the upset, James made his final play. With time running out and the Lakers down by one, James found himself in position to tip in a missed shot from the Lakers’ offense, securing the win as the buzzer sounded.
“I was just trying to read the ball off the rim,” James explained. “Once I saw the ball come off the front rim, I knew I had a chance. I just wanted to tap it in before time ran out.”
This buzzer-beater added to the long history of playoff battles between James and the Pacers, a team he had eliminated multiple times in his career.
“It was obviously a great play by a great player,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said, acknowledging James’ clutch moment after the game.
