It was another whirlwind night for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, and this one might be tough to shake off. The Chicago Bulls pulled off what could be described as the most astonishing comeback of the NBA season, snatching a 119-117 victory over the Lakers in dramatic fashion. In a nail-biting finish that left fans on the edge of their seats, the Bulls managed to score an improbable nine points in the final 10 seconds, dishing out what could be the most crushing loss for James & Co. this year.
In those tense closing moments, the usually reliable James found himself caught in a rare moment of misjudgment. He left Chicago forward Patrick Williams too open, allowing him to drain a crucial three-pointer. Shortly after, James committed an uncharacteristic turnover during the inbounds, and to cap it off, he failed to pick up Josh Giddey, who was perfectly positioned for a buzzer-beater that sealed the game.
After the final whistle, James didn’t shy away from taking responsibility for his late-game mistakes. “We put ourselves in a position to win. Gave up a lot of threes in the fourth quarter,” he said. “I had a horrible turnover. Bad miscommunication… AR still made a big bucket trying to save us. And then, tip your hat if someone makes a game-winner from half-court.”
Josh Giddey, who capitalized on the misstep when he intercepted James’s inbounds pass, expressed surprise at the ease of the transition. “He kind of just bounced it,” Giddey noted, highlighting the unusual nature of the moment for the veteran star.
Despite the night’s struggles, James still managed to end with 17 points, five rebounds, and 12 assists, showing that his groin injury may be a thing of the past. However, the Lakers are in a precarious position, having lost four of their last five matches, and they have some work to do to regain their footing.
Los Angeles, holding a record of 44-29, will now set its sights on the Memphis Grizzlies in a road game this coming Saturday night. The stakes are high, and the Lakers will need to address these late-game lapses if they hope to turn their fortunes around.
