[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104-99 in a closely watched NBA regular-season game for their fifth straight win. Despite questions about the Lakers’ reliance on referees, LeBron James proved that the Lakers won on merit.
(Source: Getty Image)
This game, James showed a strong leadership style. He finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 8-of-19 shooting from the field. Especially in the final 111 seconds of the game, he hit a pair of key 3-pointers to help the Lakers seal the win, once again explain the 39-year-old veteran’s outstanding value.
This season, the Lakers have a new look after a new coach. Coach J.J. Redick took over, and the Lakers went 8-4 to take their place in the competitive Western Conference. However, the LAKERS have also been questioned because they average 27.1 free throw attempts per game (league leader). In this game, the Lakers were inferior in free throws, and Redick even received his first technical foul for his dissatisfaction with the referee’s call. At the time, Redick was upset that Austin Reaves was not fouled for a layup and protested strongly to the officials.
Still, the Lakers overcame a free-throw deficit with the strength of the team and the brilliance of James. James, who scored just 10 points in the first three quarters, rose to the occasion and was once again the Lakers’ most trusted player. His calm and precision helped the Lakers to resolve the danger and respond to the outside world with strength.
The Lakers are on a roll, rejuvenated by a new coach and James’ steady output providing a solid guarantee for them to compete for higher honors in the coming seasons.