Lakers’ LeBron James goes chest-to-chest with Ja Morant after game-sealing slam.
LeBron James was questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Friday night game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to ankle wear and tear. However, James eventually dressed up and appeared to be his typical self. In the Lakers’ 123-120 victory, James scored 37 points, two of which came late in the game.
With 10 seconds left, the Grizzlies had the ball and a chance to tie the game, with the Lakers leading by three points, 121-118. James, on the other hand, responded emphatically. James recovered a lost ball and used his famous reverse jam to increase the Lakers’ advantage to an insurmountable five points with five seconds remaining. James, clearly enjoying himself, took a moment to flex in front of the Grizzlies bench. Ja Morant then approached the Lakers star and, with a smirk on his face, opted to playfully shove James as the King styled in front of them.
The Lakers would have loved to win the game early against a depleted Grizzlies team. But there are far worse ways to conclude the game, and it’s a pleasure to see LeBron James not only go up for a thrilling dunk at the age of 39, but also connect in this lighthearted fashion with Ja Morant, another amazing athlete in his own right. The Lakers, led by LeBron James, rank seventh. For now
The Lakers’ Friday night game against the Grizzlies was crucial because it put them in a position to avoid the 9/10 side of the play-in tournament bracket. They obviously acknowledged the seriousness of the issue; LeBron James played 41 minutes despite being doubtful going into the game, and Anthony Davis played 43 after missing the previous game for the Lakers.
There is still a potential that the Lakers will need to win two games to make the playoffs as the eighth seed. If the Los Angeles Lakers finish with the same record as their nearest seeding challengers, the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, they will be eliminated due to tiebreaker regulations. They finished 1-7 against both clubs, making the final regular-season game a must-win.