The Los Angeles Lakers had lost three consecutive games and were on the brink of another frustrating loss Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers before LeBron James came to the rescue with a buzzer-beating game-winner.
Trailing 119-118 with just seven seconds left, Luka Doncic missed a potential game-winning shot, but James was perfectly positioned to tip in the rebound, securing a crucial victory for the Lakers. Despite a slow start in which James went 0-for-5 from the field in the first half, the four-time MVP finished the night with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
With this game-winner, James moved into second place in NBA history for most regular-season buzzer-beaters, trailing only Michael Jordan (via StatMamba).
At 40 years and 89 days old, he also became the oldest player in league history to hit a game-winning buzzer-beater
James’ clutch moment quickly took over social media, with fans and athletes alike reacting to his heroics—including Kansas City Chiefs superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, who posted a crown emoji on his X account in recognition of James’s greatness.
The win gives the Lakers a much-needed boost in their push for an automatic playoff spot. Currently tied for fourth in the Western Conference, LA is still within striking distance of the No. 2 seed, trailing the Houston Rockets by three games with 10 games left in the regular season.
The Lakers (44-28) will now head to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Thursday night, looking to avenge Saturday’s 146-115 blowout loss and continue their playoff push.