The LA Lakers, still without their backcourt pairing of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, pulled off another shocking win over the Houston Rockets. Yet again, it was LeBron James who led the charge, delivering a performance that felt like a throwback to his MVP years.
LeBron had several standout moments during Tuesday night’s game at Crypto.com Arena, but one play in particular had the internet buzzing. With about eight minutes left in the third quarter and the score sitting at 60-57, James found himself matched up against Kevin Durant at the top of the key.
He managed to get past Durant and had a wide-open lane in front of him. Instead of taking the simple route, he went for something special, finishing with a two-handed reverse windmill dunk.
The move itself was jaw-dropping, but what really stunned fans was seeing a 41-year-old pull it off so effortlessly. Even LeBron seemed a bit surprised when he looked back on it later.
“I don’t even know what that was about,” James joked during his postgame interview. “I got to sit the hell down. I got to sit down somewhere.”
Beyond the highlight, LeBron James carried the Lakers offensively throughout the night. He finished with a game-high 28 points, along with a team-high seven assists and eight rebounds. This all-around effort led to his side clinching a 101-94 win, as the Purple & Gold take a 2-0 lead in the series.
LeBron James sheds light on longevity after adding another feather to his cap
LeBron James achieved yet another milestone on Tuesday. At age 40 and above, he has now recorded at least 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in a playoff game for the third time in his career. No other player has managed to do it even once.
Speaking about his longevity, James admitted he is aware that his chances to play in the postseason are becoming fewer as he nears the end of his career. Because of that, he is focused on appreciating every opportunity he still gets, especially in the playoffs.
“I don’t know, just kind of living in the moment, I guess. I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll get to play in the postseason in my career. So, I live for this moment,” James said.
“I live for the postseason. I’ve been doing this since I was 21,” James added. “For 20 years, I’ve been thinking about the postseason. So, I don’t shy away from it.”
James, who is putting up 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists so far, will travel to Houston as the series now shifts to Toyota Center for Games 3 and 4.
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