And after the last horn, he held his hands in the air in celebration.
In the final Hallway Series showdown between the Lakers and the Clippers — unless the Crypto.com Arena co-tenants meet in the playoffs — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer ensured the meeting wouldn’t be forgettable
Despite the Lakers trailing by 21 in the fourth quarter, James brought them all the way back, and when they needed to get one last stop to ensure the win, James was there to meet the challenge.
Kawhi Leonard’s baseline jumper missed short with James’ hand in his face, the Lakers winning 116-112 on Wednesday night after it looked like a blowout loss was on the way.
Ten seasons ago, the Clippers and their coach at the time, Doc Rivers, hatched a plan to cover the Lakers’ championship banners to make the arena they share feel more like their home. Wednesday, one of those banners read “Give no quarter.”
No matter. James was there to take the fourth.
He scored 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter while dishing out four late assists, the Lakers getting huge shots from Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell as they walloped the Clippers 39-16.
James scored or assisted 11 of the 13 Lakers field goals in the fourth to wrap the Hallway Series era.
It felt like there would be some kind of resolution Wednesday.
Tyronn Lue was frustrated, the Clippers having lost two of three since the All-Star break. The Clippers had pushed to the top of the Western Conference earlier in the month, their status as one of the league’s true title contenders unchallenged.
But a loss to the Thunder and a loss to the Kings underscored slippage in execution and maybe some waning attention.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Darvin Ham, also, was frustrated, the Lakers having lost two of three since the All-Star break.
A run before the break had created some real momentum, the team looking like a threat to avoid the play-in tournament. But losses to the Warriors and the Suns, plus a sloppy-ish win against lowly San Antonio had the team trying to recapture some rhythm.
The Clippers were looking to prove that their brief malaise was the kind of thing that happens all the time to title teams – a let-up before refocusing for the final stretch.
And the Lakers?
“We needed one of these,” Ham said.
The Clippers, without Paul George and Ivica Zubac, made a statement early, Terance Mann slamming a dunk over Anthony Davis in the opening minutes. And they reaffirmed late, Kawhi Leonard walking into a three to extinguish a brief Lakers’ run in the second half.
But there was no slowing James, not Thursday, as he ensured the Lakers would win the season series with the Clippers for the first time since 2012.
Rui Hachimura of the Lakers dunks over Terance Mann.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Clippers’ defense never fully activated, and the Lakers operated above 50% shooting for most of the game. But the stops never materialized, the Clippers hitting shots too often and too easily, Norman Powell ending the third with a buzzer-beating third in front of Reaves, who was helpless to do anything other than roll his eyes in frustration.
But in the fourth, James was other-worldly – the Lakers winning the final fight as the road team in their old building (pending a potential playoff meeting with the Clippers).
“He left his cape under the bench,” Ham said.