LeBron James played hero ball to get the game into overtime, but couldn’t hit some key free throws to clinch the win.
LeBron James isn’t off to the start he probably hoped for as Los Angeles Laker. After falling 0-2 on the season, the Lakers hosted the San Antonio Spurs Monday night at the Staples Center, where they pushed the game to overtime but fell up just a tad short, losing 143-142.
During regulation, LeBron capped off an 8-0 run in the last minute of the game by nailing a deep 3-pointer with 2 seconds left. Spurs had a chance to win the game, but Demar Derozan missed a tough fade away shot.
Lakers then carried their momentum from regulation into overtime and eventually went up 142-136. After a layup from Spurs and then a HUGE 3-pointer by Rudy Gay, the Spurs cut the score to 142-141 with 15 seconds left. Lakers inbounded the ball to LeBron who instantly got fouled and was heading to the line with 12.8 seconds left. Up by one, LeBron missed not the first, but BOTH free throws, giving Spurs a chance to rebound the ball and take the lead with 11 seconds left. And that’s exactly what they did, with Patty Mills hitting a 22-foot jumper thanks to some lazy defense by Lonzo Ball, giving the Spurs a 143-142 lead immediately following James’ 2 missed FT’s.
Lakers did have a chance to win it however with LeBron having the ball with 6.8 seconds left, but rather than driving James settled for a tough fall away jumper, which he ended up missing as the buzzer sounded.
Spurs escaped with a 143-142 win and ended the game on a 11-4 run, with LeBron missing 2 crucial free throws with under 15 seconds left.
Check out some of the reactions from people on Twitter (below).
PATTY MILLS! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/5sM9zAlxjJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 23, 2018
LeBron James missed 2 FTs with 12 secs left in OT and the Lakers up 1. In the final 15 seconds of the 4th qtr/OT, LeBron is 10-21 (48%) on FTs in one-score games since the start of last season. That's the worst FT pct of any player with at least 10 FTA in those situations. pic.twitter.com/VydjZfZDTL
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 23, 2018
@KingJames Great game tonight. Brick two free throws with 13 seconds left then miss the shot to win it at the buzzer. How’s that 0-3 feeling Queen James. Shut up and dribble you big dummy. #NBA #LALakers #Lakers #NoWins #NoMoreRings
— MrSports (@I_OWN_YOU_FOOL) October 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/DJTriniKing/status/1054615605452644353
https://twitter.com/xavierwayy24/status/1054615525123411968
Kobe made two free throws with a torn achilles, @KingJames you gotta be better!!!
— Saucy Papi (@Dope_Royalty187) October 23, 2018
JR Smith smiling right now after he watched Bron blow the game. #lakers #lebron #james #spurs pic.twitter.com/v3IhL5xM6a
— Blake R (@BlakeNinja) October 23, 2018
Kobe Bryant fans after seeing LeBron James choke tonight. 😂 pic.twitter.com/A5HcjGZcIb
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) October 23, 2018
@KingJames brought us to OT just to fail us….#workonfreethrows
— TuMalditaMadre (@Mr_Tuero) October 23, 2018
@KingJames you lost us this one chief you owe us
— getright (@_Ralph_Lauren_) October 23, 2018
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