After the Los Angeles Lakers fell behind by 21 points early in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, LeBron James rescued them. He was having a solid game to that point, but he turned things up to 11.
He single-handedly outscored the Clippers 19-16 and hit five 3-pointers while dishing four assists in the period. It was enough for a 116-112 Lakers triumph over their soon-to-be ex-tenants at Crypto.com Arena.
James has had several big fourth-quarter performances this season, but this may have been his best.
Getting into the zone is a nearly transcendent mental state and experience for an athlete, and James described it as a superpower.
LeBron James on his fourth quarter: "When you feel like everything you put up is going in… during it you don't feel anything, its like a superpower" pic.twitter.com/D1BOD9m1Nw
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 29, 2024
No matter where one thinks James ranks among the greatest NBA players, one has to marvel at the level he’s still able to play at, at least in spurts, in his 21st season.
It was an example of what late legendary University of California, Los Angeles head coach John Wooden called competitive greatness, which is being at one’s best when one’s best is needed.
In fact, this 21-point deficit was the largest fourth-quarter deficit a James-led team has overcome to achieve a victory.
Lakers trailed by 21 points in the 4th quarter. This was the largest 4th quarter comeback win by a LeBron James team in his career
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) February 29, 2024
However, it remains to be seen if he will play on Thursday when the Lakers host the struggling Washington Wizards, a team that has lost 12 games in a row.