Former All-Star Victor Oladipo undermined LeBron James‘ buzzer-beater from Wednesday’s sport, questioning if it was the “easiest game-winner” in NBA historical past.
Oladipo’s reasoning was sound. Tip-in pictures shouldn’t necessarily count as buzzer-beaters since they do not require a participant to shoot over a number of defenders or overcome defensive stress.
Semantics? Maybe. The report books nonetheless rely James’ shot towards the Pacers as his eighth profession game-winner (playoffs included). He now trails Michael Jordan by only one buzzer-beater on the all-time checklist.
James, 40, additionally turned the oldest participant ever to make a game-winner to seal a victory.
The buzzer-beater however, James endured a horrid capturing night time. For the primary time since 2010, he did not make a field goal through the first half, and his capturing woes continued into the third quarter. Coming into the ultimate interval, he was 0-of-6 from the sector, and his solely three factors got here from the charity stripe.
James wanted to attain seven factors within the fourth quarter to sustain his 18-year streak of double-digit-scoring video games. He would reply the bell with 10 by going 4-of-6 from the ground, together with the game-winning shot.
The 22-year veteran completed with 13 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists within the hard-fought 120-119 win over the Pacers. The Lakers entered the competition on a three-game losing streak, which might have prolonged to 4 defeats if not for James’s last-second tip-in.
After the sport, James defined why one other loss would have been devastating for his crew.
“The best way we have been taking part in… to come back in right here and get a win in a really hostile atmosphere is massive time for our ball membership,” James stated.
