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LeBron James and the Lakers are 0-3 after a 143-142 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs home Monday night. This is one of four remaining teams without a league win.
Both teams failed to play at full power, but that did not cost the drama. (Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram missed the match because of their involvement in rocket launching this weekend, with Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker injured.)
A LeBron three-point shot with a 2.4-second tie-scoreless tie made the match longer, but a mid-range rider from Patty Mills closed the table before James hit a so-called winner of the match. James also missed a pair of free throws in overtime, where his 32 points were not enough. He was both the hero and an underdog in the same night for Lakers fans.
Here are 8 things to know about Los Angeles's closest win this season.
1. LeBron had one of the worst moments of his life and it did not really matter
James had four runs in the first period on two of the eight shots in the first half, missing long and short shots. It was ugly, which is rarely described as what he does on a basketball court.
All this was swept in the second half, where he scored 9 out of 17 points to get 28 points, including three to tie. Bad LeBron never lasts.
2. LeBron's tying goal was so tight
In his second home game at Staples Center, James slowly dribbled the field with the clock. Everyone knew what was going to happen, including his defender, Rudy Gay, and no one could stop him.
James stood up against Gay and absorbed the biggest blow of his short career in Latin America when the Lakers crowd burst. That's why he is one of the best to do it.
3. Someone named Johnathan Williams was huge for L.A.
The Lakers do not have much to do to start, and JaVale McGee could have played in 28 minutes. But Gonzaga's double-choice player Johnathan Williams, who is not known for his blocking shot, left with three of them. It was an unexpected key for L.A. to stay in this one, and he finished with eight points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
4. The last game of Gregg Popovich was perfect
Popovich used DeMar DeRozan as a decoy to win the match, which was quite unexpected. DeRozan threw the intruders to LaMarcus Aldridge, and rigged received a transfer to throw the defense. This allowed Patty Mills to catch Lonzo Ball sleeping on the defensive side and stand up for the winning jumper.
5. Patty Mills' winning goal was made possible by LeBron missing two free throws.
James joined the line with 12.8 seconds to overtime with a chance to give his team three points. It did not finish well because James missed both and it cost them the match.
6. James also missed the winning goal and Lakers fans called Kobe on Twitter
James came back in a long pass that did not last a few minutes after missing the pair of free throws and lost the match.
The buzz in Staples Center was completely zapped, which meant it was time for Twitter to tell us that Kobe would have done it.
Kobe would have made them throw free …
– Assassination of Darius (@ _bigplayslay23) October 23, 2018
Absolutely hate the comparison match and the awkward convening of GOAT because everyone is different and awesome in its own way.
But this is the main difference between Bron and Kobe / Mike. They own this moment. Literally. pic.twitter.com/8EfJfdAQh8
– Ball Do not Stop (@balldontstop) October 23, 2018
NEVER COMPARE LEBRON TO KOBE AGAIN. Period
– N8V (@justinLAtive) October 23, 2018
Kobe Bryant would have done both.
– Dan Duangdao (@DanDuangdao) October 23, 2018
Kobe would have done both. Good night.
– VanLathan (@VanLathan) October 23, 2018
7. DeMar DeRozan had a record career in aid
DeRozan seems to be hitting an unknown crime in San Antonio. He tied LeBron's 32-14-8 stats line and his 14 assists earned him a career record. The Spurs are going to need a complete production like this all season of their new star to qualify for the playoffs, especially with Murray for the season after tearing up his ACL.
8. Kyle Kuzma was the scorer of the match
The battle for Best Lakers Youth continued while Kuzma emptied everything against the Spurs. He finished with a maximum of 37 points on 15 shots out of 25, including 4 out of 10. He was the extra scorer that LeBron needed to stay in at all.
But that was not enough and now the Lakers are 0-3.
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