Spectacle pure in the NBA: LeBron James impressively leads the Lakers out of the crisis, while MVP candidate Nikola Jokic celebrates a strong comeback for the Nuggets.
Led by superstar Luka Doncic and match winner LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers have ended their negative run in the NBA. After three consecutive defeats, the Lakers won 120:119 in a thrilling finish at the Indiana Pacers and celebrated an important success in the race for the playoffs.
The decision was made in the final second: after Doncic missed, James reacted the quickest and made the decisive tip-in just before the final siren. The 40-year-old had previously struggled to score, with James not getting his first points from open play until the final quarter, when he scored a total of ten of his 13 points. James also contributed 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Top scorer Doncic scored 34 points. The Pacers, who suffered their first defeat in five straight wins, had their best scorer in Bennedict Mathurin (23). The Lakers are in fourth place in the West with 44-28 wins, while the Pacers are in the same place in the Eastern Conference (42-30).
Maximilian Kleber, who was traded to L.A. along with superstar Doncic and Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks in a spectacular trade, continues to wait for his debut for the Californians due to a foot injury.
NBA: Jokic shines with triple-double on return against Bucks
Top star Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, celebrated a brilliant comeback. The Serb recorded a triple-double in his Denver Nuggets’ 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. In addition to 39 points, he had ten rebounds and ten assists. Denver, who had lost three of four games without Jokic, who was out with an ankle injury, is in third place in the West. The Bucks, who had to manage without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (sprain of the left foot) at short notice, have slipped to sixth place in the East.
NBA: Clippers beat Knicks – Hukporti still missing
Ariel Hukporti was still absent from the New York Knicks’ 113-126 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The German center suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee at the end of February and has not played in a game since. Karl-Anthony Towns put up a fight against the defeat with 34 points and 14 rebounds, but was unable to prevent it. On the Clippers’ side, James Harden impressed with 29 points and Kawhi Leonard, who scored 27 points, grabbed ten rebounds and made seven assists. With 45 wins and 27 defeats, the Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference and on course for the playoffs despite the defeat.
