LeBron James had the fans and the Los Angeles Lakers bench reeling after his incredible play in the final moments of Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
With less than a minute on the clock and the Lakers trailing 111-112, the four-time NBA champion pulled off a jaw-dropping move. After Cameron Johnson missed a three-point attempt, the ball was left loose on the court.
Before two Nuggets players who were much closer to the ball could get to that, James ignored his 41 years of age and a lingering hip issue to launch his body into a full-extension dive into the courtside seats to save a loose ball. The Lakers managed to push the game to overtime and went on to secure the win.
JJ Redick on LeBron James’ Full-Extension dive
Redick, who has known LeBron James since they were the two biggest names in high school basketball, shared an exchange he had with his superstar in the locker room after the game.
“I told him after the game in 23 years of watching you play in the NBA and the 3 years I watched you play in high school I never saw you make a full out extension dive like that and he said you’re right I’ve never done that. It’s awesome. I know he’ll feel that tomorrow. That’s a winning play,” Redick said.
Redick has frequently used the phrase “never let go of the rope” to describe the Lakers’ defensive identity this season. That move right there from the 22-time NBA All-Star was the North Star for the entire organization. James finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Lakers Extend Their Winning Streak
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 127–125 in an overtime epic on Saturday night. The win extended their winning streak to five and handed them a third seed in the Western Conference (42-25).
The night featured triple-doubles by both superstars, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, and a miracle play to force overtime. After a night of heavy lifting, Doncic put the finishing touches on a historic performance.
With the game tied 125–125 and the clock winding down in overtime, Doncic created separation from Denver’s Spencer Jones and buried a 17-foot fall-away jumper with just 0.5 seconds remaining. He finished with a massive triple-double, 30 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds. The superstar capped off the night by blocking Tim Hardaway Jr.’s desperation heave at the buzzer.
Austin Reaves’ Heroics
The Lakers wouldn’t have even reached overtime without the heroics of Austin Reaves. Trailing 118–115 with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, Reaves was fouled. He made the first free throw to cut the lead to two. He then intentionally missed the second, perfectly clanking it off the front of the rim. Reaves sprinted past a stunned Nuggets defense, snatched his own rebound, and converted a floater with 1.9 seconds left to tie the game at 118.
