LeBron nears all-time field goals record in Lakers’ win

LOS ANGELES — There are fairly wins, after which there are mandatory wins. Tuesday evening at Crypto.com Area fell squarely into the second class.

With underneath 5 minutes remaining and the Pelicans clinging to a 94-93 lead, the Lakers regarded disjointed, turnover-prone and at risk of letting one slip. Then got here the pivot.

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Austin Reaves buried a right-wing three to present the Lakers a 96-94 edge. On the subsequent journey, Luka Dončić drove onerous into the paint, absorbed contact that went unwhistled and completed anyway — roaring again on the referee because the ball dropped by. It wasn’t delicate. It was emotional. It was the spark.

The Lakers by no means regarded again.

They closed the sport on a 24-7 run, outscoring New Orleans by 17 over the ultimate seven minutes to safe a 110-101 win — their third straight. In a sport that felt chaotic for lengthy stretches, they have been medical when it mattered most.

At 17-5 in clutch video games, the Lakers now personal the perfect clutch win share within the NBA. Dončić pointed to one thing easy afterward.

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“Objective,” he mentioned of the fourth-quarter surge.

And even he admitted it wasn’t fairly.

“Typically you gotta win by enjoying dangerous, that’s what good groups do,” Dončić mentioned. “Clearly wasn’t our greatest sport however we acquired the win.”

Luka’s Edge — and the Line He’s Strolling

Dončić completed with 27 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists in 38 minutes, shaking off seven turnovers and a 3-for-10 evening from deep. With underneath a minute left, he drilled the dagger three and — sure — let the officers hear about it once more.

His technical foul was his 14th of the season. Two extra means an automated suspension, with 21 video games remaining. This was simply his first since Jan. 20. The steadiness between hearth and management will matter. Particularly with the standings tightening.

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The Huge Three — Imperfect, Efficient

It wasn’t a masterpiece from the Lakers’ stars, nevertheless it was sufficient. LeBron James added 21 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes, although he dedicated 5 turnovers and shot 1-for-5 from three. He now sits at 15,835 regular-season discipline objectives — simply three shy of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the all-time file.

Head coach JJ Redick made it clear there will likely be no stat-chasing.

“I wouldn’t coach a basketball sport that approach to attempt to get a man a file,” Redick mentioned. “He’ll get his file, and we’re attempting to win a basketball sport.”

James echoed the team-first tone when requested about lineup mixtures with Dončić and Reaves.

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“If I’m on the courtroom, I simply play with whoever’s on the ground with us. I don’t analyze lineups. It’s my job irrespective of who I’m on the ground with to attempt to make it occur.”

Reaves, in the meantime, contributed 15 factors, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks — and maybe essentially the most trustworthy quote of the evening when discussing defending Zion Williamson.

“Don’t be scared to get out of the best way, I used to be terrified,” Reaves mentioned. “There was no means in hell I used to be taking a cost. He was operating too quick. I simply type of slid out the best way & let him have a layup.”

Protection, Vitality and 12 Blocks

The Lakers compelled the problem defensively, ending with 12 complete blocks — each starter recorded at the least one. The Pelicans had simply three. They generated 28 fast-break factors to New Orleans’ 18 and survived 22 turnovers by compensating with rim safety and late-game execution.

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James thought the defensive strides have been actual.

“I believe we’ve made some strides defensively,” James mentioned. “The person-to-man protection was fairly good. Jaxson and Marcus have been nice on that finish after which all people else trickled in as nicely.”

Good and Hayes Change the Sport

Marcus Good described it as “chaotic.” He wasn’t flawed. However he additionally modified it.

Good completed with 10 factors, seven assists and 4 steals in half-hour, hounding ballhandlers and battling Zion all through. Redick didn’t mince phrases.

“He gave us life tonight,” Redick mentioned.

Good referred to as it collective toughness.

“We have been all in there, sacrificing our physique,” Good mentioned. “Not as soon as did anyone begin freaking out or begin panicking.”

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On one sequence, guarding two gamers, Good anticipated a go and jumped the lane for a steal — the kind of instinctual play that has outlined his profession.

“That’s what I do,” Good mentioned. “My thoughts works in that means and I made a terrific play for my group.”

Jaxson Hayes introduced comparable power off the bench: eight factors, six rebounds, two blocks and 4 essential offensive boards in 23 minutes.

“He’s a superb basketball participant that frankly, constantly injects power into the group,” Redick mentioned. Later, he added that Good and Hayes “modified the sport.”

Deandre Ayton was environment friendly as nicely, posting 13 factors, eight rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes.

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The Larger Image

The Lakers improved to 37-24, only a half-game out of the fifth seed and solely 1½ video games behind third within the West. With 21 video games remaining, the margin for error is skinny — and nights like Tuesday, messy as they’re, carry weight.

However when it tightened, they executed with goal.

Typically that’s the mark of a group rising into one thing greater than spotlight reels and stat strains.  A group studying the way to shut. And proper now, the Lakers are closing.