Lakers Escape the Clippers' second half comeback, 103-101
Orlando- LeBron James puts back a missed shot with 12.1 seconds in regulation to win the game for the Lakers against the Los Angeles Clippers, 103-101.
In the first half, the Lakers looked like they haven't lost a step since the season was postponed in March. Anthony Davis was very aggressive and assertive as he willed the Lakers to a 12-point lead in the first quarter. Davis looked like he was in NBA shape, as he had 14 points, 1 assist, and 3 rebounds in one quarter. LeBron James did not score in the first quarter but had 5 assists. The Lake show was very entertaining to watch and was up 12 in the first quarter.
However, in the second quarter, the Clippers' superstars started to heat up. Paul George and Kawhi Leanard hit some amazing shots and combined for 30 points at the end of the half to cut the Lakers' lead to two,54-52.
In the second half, turnovers killed the Lakers' momentum. Early in the third quarter, the lakers accumulated 21 turnovers that resulted in 15 points for the Clippers. The Lakers' bench had trouble scoring down the stretch, but Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell Pope put their star Davis in a good position to score. Both players took the double team every time they went down the court and made the correct pass to a wide-open Davis, who was feeling it from the three-point strike. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers were down one, 77-76.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers went on a 17-3 run to take a demanding double-digit lead, but the Clippers fought tooth and nail to get back into the game. George and Patrick Beverly hit a couple of threes to cut the deficit to seven, but Kuzma hit a three to put the Lakers back up with under six minutes left in regulation. The Clippers stopped the Lakers from scoring on three consecutive possessions and Kawhi hit a three-pointer to cut the Lakers' lead to four with under four minutes left in regulation. George hit a three cut the lead to one, but James took it upon himself to drive through the lane for a lay-up to put the Lakers up three with under a minute left in regulation. George hit a three to tie the game with 18.1 seconds left in the game. With 12 seconds in the game, James grabs his own rebound and scores to win the game for the Lakers 103-101.
