LOS ANGELES – Midway through overtime in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 130-125 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday – when LeBron James’ playing time was approaching 40 minutes – Austin Reaves had a decision to make.
By rushing the court on a counterattack, having just stolen the ball from Kawhi Leonard, Reaves can attempt to finish at the basket himself or draw in his 38-year-old teammate.
“At no point after receiving that ball did I think I was going to shoot it,” Reaves said.
“I saw him and I was going to pass him all the way.
” It wasn’t just any pass.
Reaves threw a ball over his shoulder, and James, who was rushing hard, scored the goal to give the Lakers a five-point lead at 2:.
12.
This caused the Clippers to call a timeout and stunned the crowd.
“I felt like I could throw it anywhere and he would go get it,” Reaves said of James.
“It’s crazy the amount of time he plays.
” James added, after finishing with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 42 minutes: 4,444 “I’m happy to still be able to” achieve it at this point in my career.
I mean, he trusted me to achieve it, so I wanted to go for it.
The dunk provided a dominant finish to the game for the four-time MVP, who helped the Lakers end an 11-game losing streak against the Clippers by scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, with the score 6 for 8 from the field while doing that.
“I mean, he took over,” Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell said of James.
This win raised the Lakers’ record to 3-2, and James continued to stand out in late-game situations.
He scored 51 points (10.
2 points per game) in the fourth quarter and overtime this season, shooting a total of 21 of 31 from the field (68%).
“If we keep the game close, I feel like the fourth quarter is when I’m at my best,” James said.
“If the game is close, I can play to help us win the game, no matter who is on the field for us.
” With Los Angeles hitting the injury bug early, Taurean Prince (sore left knee) was a late scratch on Wednesday and joins Rui Hachimura (concussion), Gabe Vincent (swollen left knee) and Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis) on the mend, James is back on track.
“He was phenomenal throughout the game,” said Anthony Davis, who had another good performance with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
“I think [the coaching staff] set the timing early and then let [James] flow throughout the fourth quarter.
” Indeed, the caveat that comes with the late-game outburst is that James regularly meets the team’s playing time guidelines, which limit him to 28-30 minutes per game.
In five games, James played an average of 35.
6 minutes, up slightly from 35.
5 minutes played last season.
As Lakers coach Darvin Ham has more options, he will reduce James’ playing time, the goal being to keep him as fresh as possible for the playoffs.
For now, the group is satisfied to find their place by asking James to take them home.
“He’s not just getting ready and being a different body on the field,” Ham said.
“He is preparing to reach a very high level.
Not just available, but available and elite.
How brave of him.
