NBA: James has buzzer-beating tip-in to lift Lakers over Pacers

James extended his NBA-record streak of 10 or more points to 1,283 games - barely. He was 0 for 6 with three points through the first three quarters but finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

James beat the Pacers to the rim for the winner and was careful to touch the ball and pull his hand away just before the buzzer sounded.

Doncic also had seven rebounds, seven assists and made six 3-pointers. Austin Reaves added 24 points as the Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak to move into a tie with Memphis for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Bennedict Mathurin had 23 points to lead Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton had a season-high 18 assists and 16 points, the last of which gave Indiana a 119-118 lead with 42.2 seconds left. Indiana had streaks of five straight wins overall and eight straight at home snapped.

The Lakers led the entire second and third quarters and were still up 118-112 with 1:44 to go. But Haliburton's three-point play capped a 7-0 run that gave Indiana the lead. Both teams then had empty possessions, and Doncic missed a midrange floater in the waning seconds, setting up James for the winner.

MAN ON THE LAKERS pic.twitter.com/NqEl8iSzFd

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 27, 2025

Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his first game back in nearly two weeks to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 127-117 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The triple-double was Jokic’s NBA-leading 30th of the season. The reigning NBA MVP missed the team’s previous five games with an injured left ankle.

Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points for the Nuggets on a night when he made his first six shots, including his first five 3-pointers.

It was the Bucks’ first game since it was announced star guard Damian Lillard was diagnosed with blood clots in his right calf. Milwaukee was also without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined with a sprained left foot that coach Doc Rivers said he was informed of at the team’s shootaround Wednesday.

Brook Lopez had 26 points for the Bucks, marking the third consecutive game in which the veteran big man has finished with at least 20 points. Seven of the eight Milwaukee players who took the court Wednesday scored in double figures.

After not trailing for the opening 31 minutes, the Nuggets fell behind 88-83 in the third quarter, but immediately responded with a 13-1 run capped by a 3 from Christian Braun.

Of course he returned and got a triple-double pic.twitter.com/htFbxGzsS6

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 27, 2025

Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, Jaylen Brown added 24 and the Boston Celtics blew past the Phoenix Suns 132-102 for their seventh straight victory.

The Suns had a four-game winning streak snapped but still have possession of the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament with nine regular-season games remaining.

Boston took control late in the second quarter, using a 27-6 run to take a 73-54 lead into halftime. The Celtics - playing without injured star Jayson Tatum - hit 10 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Porzingis shot 10 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all added 16 points.

Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Devin Booker added 14 points and 10 assists.

Tatum missed the game with a sprained left ankle, an injury he suffered Monday against the Kings. Coach Joe Mazzulla is hopeful Tatum won't be out much longer.