The way LeBron James played Saturday, you would’ve had no idea he was a game-time decision due to a knee injury.
James logged his 103rd career triple-double to lead the Lakers to a 122-115 victory in an overtime thriller against the Knicks. James finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists over 40 minutes in what was also his fifth career triple-double against New York.
The Lakers actually trailed big early on; the Knicks jumped out to an 11-0 lead over the game’s first two minutes. Their lead ballooned all the way to as many as 21 points by the back half of the second quarter, and they went into halftime up by 15.
Whatever Frank Vogel and his staff said in the locker room at the break, it worked. Los Angeles came out firing in the third quarter, slowly but surely working its way back into the game. Then, with 4:42 left in the period, Anthony Davis threw down a dunk that gave the Lakers an 80-79 lead.
Los Angeles ended the third leading 87-84. New York tied it shortly afterward, but after that, the Lakers went for much of the frame still holding a somewhat comfortable lead.
But with just over two minutes to go, R.J. Barrett drew a foul and cut the lead to seven; then Julius Randle trimmed it to five with a pair of free throws of his own. Evan Fournier cut it to four moments later, and then Barrett flew into the lane and hammered home a dunk that made it a one-possession ballgame with 40.1 to play.
The Lakers came up empty on the following possession despite the Knicks getting a technical foul, and New York came down in transition with a chance to tie it up. Fournier found Barrett wide open for three, and the third-year forward buried it to knot it up at 111 apiece. James missed a three near the end of regulation, and the game went to overtime.
James wouldn’t let that miss affect him, however, as he and the Lakers came out and controlled things in the extra period right away. After no one scored for the first 97 seconds, James threw down a dunk to take the lead then dished it to Talen Horton-Tucker the next time down to put the Lakers up by four.
Randle cut the lead back down to two, but Malik Monk and Trevor Ariza poured in a quick five points to put the game on ice. Leading by five, Davis dunked it with 23.7 left to seal the win.
In addition to his triple-double, James went 13-for-24 from the field and was +12 in plus/minus. Davis finished with 28 points and 17 rebounds, and Monk chipped in 29 points.
Barrett led all scorers in the game with 36 points while also recording eight rebounds and five assists. Randle finished with 32 points, 16 boards and seven dimes.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
