Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James caught a heater during crunch time of his team’s 112-108 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The 40-year-old made five consecutive jumpers between the 5:25 mark and .27 mark of the fourth quarter, the last of which iced the Lakers’ victory.
After the dagger shot, “The King” initiated a new celebration by combining his pantomime crown-on-the-head gesture with his iconic “silencer” celebration.
James confirmed that he introduced a new celebration.
“I meshed it for the first time in my life. I needed to. I had that moment,” James told Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell in the postgame interview.
The new-look celebration is below:
@nba New LeBron CELLY unlocked?!?! 👀 ☕️ #NBA #NBAHighlights #LeBron #Lakers #LeBronJames
LeBron James Catches Fire
James was unconscious with his shot-making in Sunday’s win, and the Lakers needed every last shot to come away with a tough road victory.
When James checked back into the game in the fourth quarter, the Lakers had just a two-point lead, 98-96, over a full-strength 76ers squad. James began his barrage with a a 22-foot jumper at the 4:25 mark, followed by a three at the 3:43 mark and another triple at the 1:12 mark. The final dagger, as mentioned above, came at the 27.4 mark when he drained a midrange shot from the left wing to give the Lakers a 110-105 lead.
James, who finished with a season-high 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists, acknowledged that he needed to step up his game amid a poor shooting night for Austin Reaves (3-of-16 FG) and Luka Doncic (9-of-24 FG), the team’s top two scoring threats.
“I felt like the opportunity kind of presented itself,” James said. “I felt like my two heavy hitters kind of didn’t have it or needed a little kick, and I tried to punch in from there.”
LeBron James Slump Ends
James, who had his 1,297-game double-digit scoring streak snapped last week, acknowledged that he will continue to have good days and bad in his 23rd season.
“Just at 40 years old, I mean, it just takes a while for my body to kind of get back into a rhythm,” James said, via The Athletic’s Dan Woike. “And so it felt good tonight to kind of feel like myself a little bit, being able to run and jump and cut and catch my second win a lot faster tonight. Hopefully that stays.”
With Sunday’s victory, the Lakers improved to 17-6, holding onto the No. 2 seed in the tough Western Conference.
Head coach JJ Redick is thrilled that LeBron James has broken out of his slump, after the 40-year-old had 13, 10 and eight points in three contests last week.
“I do think it’s important to be reminded every now and then of what you’re capable of,” coach Redick said of James. “And for him to have the injuries, and then to sort of start the season playing catch-up in a way, and start the season playing catch-up with a team that is also in a really good rhythm, and that’s, as a player, I don’t care how good you are, that’s tough to figure out. So tonight was super important.”
The Lakers (17-6) will next face the San Antonio Spurs (15-7) at home on Wednesday, before starting a three-game road trip that includes games against the Utah Jazz, LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns.
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