LeBron’s Tip-In Gives Lakers Win in Indianapolis, Clippers Stay Above Play-In with Win over Knicks, Celtics Drop Suns by 30

LeBron James got off to a historically slow start before clinching his team’s win in Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Clippers won by double-digits in New York to continue their strong play as of late, and the Boston Celtics visited Phoenix and shielded the Sun by a 30-point margin. 

James scored just two points in the opening half, the first time since 2010 that he had not scored any field-goals in the opening 24 minutes. After scoring his only points of the half from the free-throw line, the 40-year-old made a technical free-throw in the third, entering the final frame with 3 points. James turned things up in the fourth though, asserting himself with a driving layup and a jump shot over Obi Toppin. 

With the Lakers down 119-118 in the final seconds, Luka Doncic drove and missed a floater in the lane. James was in prime position to tip the ball in, and did precisely that before the red light lit up the backboard, clinching the 120-119 win for a Laker team that was down 33-25 with 35 seconds remaining in the opening quarter before reeling off 18 consecutive points. 

Doncic’s 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists (11-for-21, 6-for-10 from downtown) led the way while Austin Reaves scored 24 points with 5 assists and 4 rebounds on 8-for-16, though he was just 1-for-8 from 3-point range. James finished just 4-for-12 but did have 13 rebounds and 7 assists to go along with his 13 points for the now 44-28 Lakers. 

The Pacers, 42-30, had Myles Turner (16 points, 12 rebounds), Andrew Nembhard (16 points, 7 rebounds), and Tyrese Haliburton (16 points, 18 assists) put up solid performances while Pascal Siakam scored 15 points with 6 rebounds on 6-for-12 shooting. Bennedict Mathurin starred off the bench, leading the Pacers with 23 points (7-for-16) and 5 rebounds. 

At Madison Square Garden, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard gave new New York Giant quarterback Russell Wilson a show on the Clippers’ way to a 126-113 victory. The team, winners of nine of their last 11, got 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists (8-for-16, 6-for-9 from downtown) from Harden, and 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists (10-for-18) from Leonard. Ivica Zubac pitched in 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Norman Powell scored 19 points on 7-for-12 and 4-for-5 from downtown. 

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 34 points and 14 rebounds on 11-for-20 (four made threes) while OG Anunoby was 11-for-17 for 28 points. Mikal Bridges was 7-for-16 with 17 points and 9 assists. 

The 41-31 Clippers are sixth in the Western Conference, while the Knicks, third in the Eastern Conference, stand at 45-27. 

In the ESPN Wednesday nightcap, the Celtics rolled past the Suns 132-102 led by Kristaps Porzingis’ 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks (10-for-15, 4-of-5 triples) in 29 minutes. Jaylen Brown was 7-for-15 and 4-for-9 from deep with 24 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds, and Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford all scored 16. Horford added 10 rebounds and 5 assists for a Celtic team that made 22 of 52 three-point attempts. 

Kevin Durant was 11-for-16 for 30 points, while Devin Booker shot just 4-for-13 and 1-for-6 from downtown for 14 points, though he did register 10 assists and 7 rebounds. As a group the Suns shot only 41% to the Celtics’ 51 and were outrebounded 48-38. The 54-19 Celtics have made some ground on the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers thanks to the Cavs’ recent four-game losing skid, but remain 4.5 games back of the 58-14 Cavaliers. The Suns, 35-38, cling to the 10th spot in the Western Conference, as the Dallas Mavericks with the same 35-38 are on the outside of the Play-In. 

Around the League  

Wizards 119 (16-56) 

76ers 114 (23-50) 

Sarr: 24 PTS, 7 REB, 2 BLK (10-for-17 FG, 4-for-7 3PT) 

Champagnie: 18 PTS, 10 REB (7-for-12 FG, 4-for-6 3PT) 

Poole: 18 PTS, 7 AST (7-for-12 FG, 4-for-7 3PT) 

Grimes: 22 PTS, 4 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL (6-for-16 FG, 4-for-9 3PT) 

Yabusele: 21 PTS, 8 REB (7-for-15 FG, 3-for-8 3PT) 

Edwards: 19 PTS, 10 REB (9-for-15 FG) 

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Raptors 116 (26-47) 

Nets 86 (23-50)

Robinson: 23 PTS, 12 REB (10-for-14 FG) Mogbo: 16 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST (5-for-10 FG) Barnes, Barrett: 15 PTS

Claxton: 22 PTS, 11 REB, 5 BLK (10-for-14 FG)

Williams: 13 PTS, 6 REB (4-for-14 FG, 2-for-9 3PT) 

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Nuggets 127 (46-28)

Bucks 117 (40-32)

Jokic: 39 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST (16-for-25 FG, 3-for-6 3PT) 

Porter Jr.: 23 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST (7-for-9 FG, 6-for-8 3PT) 

Braun: 19 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST (8-for-15 FG, 3-for-6 3PT) 

Lopez: 26 PTS, 7 REB, 3 BLK (12-for-17 FG, 2-for-5 3PT) 

Rollins: 17 PTS (7-for-9 FG) 

Trent Jr.: 16 PTS, 4 REB (5-for-15 FG, 4-for-11 3PT) 

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