Despite a 21-Point Deficit, LeBron James Outscored The Clippers In The Fourth Quarter

(CTN News) – In the fourth quarter, LeBron James scored 19 points as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers, 116-112.

A five-second miss by Kawhi Leonard was followed by a long pass from James to Cam Reddish for a dunk to complete the Lakers’ stunning regular-season victory over these Los Angeles rivals.

A 39-year-old LeBron James was the center of all the action, hitting five of his season-high seven 3-pointers while outscoring the Clippers 19-16 in the fourth quarter. Eleven of the Lakers’ 13 baskets in the final period were scored by him or assisted by him.

It was the Clippers’ first back-to-back loss since Dec. 23 thanks to Leonard’s 26 points and LeBron James Harden’s 23 points and nine rebounds. In addition to Paul George, the Clippers were without starting center Ivica Zubac due to an illness.

Within 7:34 of the fourth quarter, LeBron James led a 29-8 run that cut the Clippers’ lead to 98-77. Davis’ free throws tied the score at 106-106 with four minutes left, and LeBron James found Hachimura for the go-ahead 3-pointer.

A 3-pointer by D’Angelo Russell gave the Lakers a 114-108 lead with 1:12 to play. Harden and Leonard both scored while LeBron James missed two shots. To the delight of thousands of Lakers fans in attendance at a “road” game, Leonard’s final shot was off target.

Since 2011, the Lakers have won the season series against the Clippers three out of four times.

Hachimura added 17 points, Russell had 18 and Davis had 20 points for the Lakers.

Staples Center opened in 1999, bringing together the Clippers, Lakers, and NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. For the next 25 years, the NBA franchises shared their home in a rivalry known as the Hallway Series because their locker rooms are about 100 feet apart.

A new era begins this fall, when the Clippers move into Intuit Dome in Inglewood, owned by Steve Ballmer. To move the Clippers out of the shadows of the Lakers’ 17 NBA championships and their banners hanging on the walls of the shared arena, Ballmer quickly secured their own arena.

Los Angeles still tilts in favor of the Lakers, but the Clippers have made progress: They have finished with a better record than the Lakers in 10 of the last 11 seasons, failing only in 2020.

Playoff series could always be arranged between the two teams, but that hasn’t happened.

A sprained right ankle kept Reddish out of 14 games.

In the first half, the Clippers led by 17 points after halftime while the Lakers missed 15 of their first 18 3-point attempts and shot only two free throws. While one of his high-scoring teammates was out with an injury, Harden dominated the Lakers with 18 points in the first half.

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