LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the first half of an NBA Tournament Play-In game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on May 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LeBron James sunk a game-winning three-point shot in the final minute of the contest versus the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
James made the shot from 34 feet to break a 100-100 tie score as Stephen Curry closed out on defense. This was the farthest James had scored from during this season. James claimed that he was also poked in the eye by Draymond Green, which made the shot even more difficult. “After Draymond’s finger to the eye, I was literally seeing three rims out there so I just shot at the middle one,” commented James.
Anthony Davis added that James was sparked by trash talk from Juan Toscano-Anderson, who had the assignment to guard James most of the night.
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Curry, who scored 37 points in the loss, called this feat by James a “great shot.” He elaborated, stating that It “was a tough one because you don’t really expect to go in… Everything changes when it goes in. All-time great players make great shots.”
“Our guys really, really just battled and competed, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team for what they’ve become over the last couple of months,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told the media. “This was our game and we couldn’t get it done.”
The game was close throughout, but the Warriors had jumped to a 55-42 lead by halftime. The Lakers had their fair share of offensive troubles, with James and others converting at a low percentage. The Lakers’ defense, however, managed to keep them in the game. The Lakers turned up the heat in the third quarter, as they outscored the Warriors by 11 points.
The win moves the Los Angeles Lakers forward to the playoffs and matches them up with the second-seeded Phoenix Suns. The Lakers are favored to win the series with -300 odds as per Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill. This is the first time that a seventh seed is favored to beat a second seed in 30 years, says ESPN.
The Warriors will now contend for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Golden State will face off with the Memphis Grizzlies tonight.
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