A furious Lakers comeback came up just short, the defense giving up two huge threes to ensure the Heat would hold on to win 113-107 after leading by as many as 26.
After looking woefully disorganized and ineffective for most of their 48 minutes, the Lakers pushed to within two possessions in the final minutes of the fourth quarter before Duncan Robinson and P.J. Tucker hit triples, giving the Heat just enough cushion against a Lakers team that completely turned the game around.
An offensive rebound by LeBron James cut the game to four with a minute left, and the Lakers got a clutch stop, but an offensive foul away from the ball on Avery Bradley — the Lakers’ 17th turnover of the game — gave Miami time to run the clock down inside the final seven seconds (before a Tucker turnover gave them the ball back).
Lakers star LeBron James, left, tries to pass the ball over Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker, center, and guard Gabe Vincent during the first half.
(Lynne Sladky / Associated Press)
But one more turnover — a fault inbounds pass from Talen Horton-Tucker — meant they’d never get closer.
LeBron James scored 33 — his 17th-straight game with at least 25 — and Russell Westbrook had 24, nine rebounds and nine assists in the loss.
The Lakers play the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday as they continue their six-game road trip.
— via www.latimes.com
The Chenab Times News Desk