LeBron James fuels Lakers’ 4th-quarter rally over Jazz

LeBron James was on the Tremendous Bowl Sunday when he noticed Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams rally within the fourth quarter to win a championship.

With Donald courtside for the Los Angeles Lakers recreation in opposition to the Utah Jazz Wednesday evening, James took some inspiration from Donald and had a fourth-quarter rally of his personal, regardless of the Lakers’ model of AD being injured earlier.

James scored 15 of his 33 factors within the fourth quarter because the Lakers overcame an damage to Anthony Davis and rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit for a 106-101 victory over the Jazz.

“I simply tried to take the inspiration of what he was capable of accomplish over the previous couple days,” stated James of Donald. “He’s the best defensive participant I’ve ever seen play the game. For him to take day trip of his day and watch us play after the parade was superb.”

Donald arrived simply as the sport was set to tip off and watched the sport courtside. Donald and the Tremendous Bowl champion Rams had their parade earlier within the day

James slapped arms with Donald whereas working down court docket through the third quarter after James scored on a reverse layup.

Within the fourth quarter, Donald stood and flexed as James ran by him and flexed working down the court docket after a driving layup received the Lakers inside three.

When the sport ended, James and Donald hugged courtside.

Los Angeles trailed 92-80 halfway by the fourth quarter earlier than it went on a 19-4 run to snap a three-game dropping streak. James had the final 10 factors through the rally, together with a thunderous dunk off an help by Russell Westbrook to place the Lakers on high 96-94 with 2:08 remaining.

Mike Conley tied it on a pair of free throws earlier than James put Los Angeles within the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 1:24 left and snap Utah’s six-game profitable streak.

James has scored 25 factors or extra in a career-best 23 straight video games.

“What we noticed LeBron do, it’s simply outstanding,” coach Frank Vogel stated. “What he continues to do at this level of his profession, to take over a recreation within the fourth quarter the best way that he did together with his power, will and willpower, it was actually one thing particular.”

Davis went down with 3 minutes to go within the second quarter with a sprained proper ankle. The Lakers stated X-rays had been detrimental and that he would obtain therapy over the All-Star break. Vogel stated that an MRI is scheduled for Thursday.

Davis had 17 factors in 17 minutes when he was injured. He was down on the court docket for a number of minutes earlier than being helped off. Davis — averaging 23.3 factors and 9.1 rebounds — has already missed 21 video games this season, together with 17 on account of a knee damage.

“Clearly, it took the sails out of us for fairly some time when AD went out, particularly with the sport he was having up till that time,” James stated. “It took us a minute to sort of recalibrate and get us some bounce again after that, however we closed the third quarter out in good trend and was capable of flip round within the fourth.”

Russell Westbrook had 17 factors and 7 rebounds whereas Malik Monk added 13 factors.

Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 37 factors, together with 5 3-pointers.

“There isn’t any means we should always have misplaced this recreation in my view. Credit score to them. I give credit score to the place credit score is due however we let the sport slip in many various circumstances,” Mitchell stated. “We performed like we had been up 40 within the second half and that may’t occur.”

Utah trailed 33-29 3 1/2 minutes within the second quarter earlier than taking the lead with 10 straight factors over a two-minute span.

The Jazz’s largest lead was 14 factors with three minutes remaining within the third quarter earlier than the Lakers rallied.

“The sport tightens up and go to LeBron, and he makes performs,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder stated. “However we had loads of possibilities to make performs too. We simply didn’t, however we put ourselves in that place. It might probably’t be that straightforward to surrender a 13-point lead. We received to make groups work to return again, and grind. It was too straightforward.”

TIP-INS

Jazz: Bojan Bogdanovic scored 15 factors and Jordan Clarkson had 13 off the bench. .. Rudy Homosexual has missed the final 5 video games on account of proper knee soreness.

Lakers: Los Angeles scored the primary 11 factors, with six coming from Davis. … Carmelo Anthony missed his fifth straight recreation on account of a proper hamstring pressure. Avery Bradley (proper knee swelling) and Kendrick Nunn (proper knee bone bruise) had been additionally out of the lineup.

UP NEXT

Jazz: Host Dallas on Feb. 25.

Lakers: Host LA Clippers on Feb. 25.