LeBron draws on 'superpower' in career-best fourth-quarter comeback
Harry Carr
February 29, 2024 03:36 MYT
February 29, 2024 03:36 MYT
LeBron James felt like he had a "superpower" after authoring the best fourth-quarter comeback of his career on Wednesday, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a stunning win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers found themselves 21 points down in the fourth quarter and heading for a third loss in four games, but the NBA's all-time leading scorer had other ideas.
James finished with 34 points, single-handedly outscoring the Clippers 19-16 in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers roared back at Crypto.com Arena to improve to 32-28 for the season.
The 39-year-old hit five of his season-best seven 3-pointers in the final frame, also finding Cam Reddish for the final dunk in a 116-112 success, with the Lakers having trailed 89-77.
Asked about his mindset during that decisive period, James said: "It's just a zone, and you can't really describe it.
"You wish you could stay in it forever, but obviously it checks out once the game ends. But during it, you don't feel anything. It's just like a superpower feeling.
"If I'm in a lineup, if I'm on the floor, I've got to make plays. Sometimes I've got to make even more plays.
"Tonight was one of those moments where I had to make even more plays in order for us to even get back into the game and then ultimately win the game."
Good night, Fam pic.twitter.com/tvVJFWPt6i — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 29, 2024
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James also added six rebounds and eight assists, and was supported by Anthony Davis (20 points), D'Angelo Russell (18) and Rui Hachimura (17).
Lakers coach Darvin Ham also compared James to a superhero in his post-game press conference, saying: "He had to take the cape, tuck it under his seat on the bench, I guess.
"It was time for him to whip it out. He definitely did that, put the cape on and just got aggressive and got into good rhythm."
While crestfallen after the defeat, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged there was little his team could do to defend James in such form, saying: "I don't think that's ever happened in my career, to lose a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter.
"But LeBron got hot. We talked about it before the game, you can't turn the ball over against this team because it's deadly."
The moment that capped off the 21-point fourth quarter comeback pic.twitter.com/myIfGzKBda — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 29, 2024
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