he is back

LeBron James had one of his best games while wearing a Lakers uniform, outscoring the Clippers by 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers defeat them 116–112.
LeBron helped the Lakers overcome a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to record one of their biggest victories of the year.
LeBron James led the way for the Lakers starters as he finished with 34 points on 13-19 shooting from the field and 7-11 from three-point range, to go along with six rebounds and eight assists. Twenty points, twelve rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks were added by Anthony Davis. Rui Hachimura scored 17 points, D’Angelo Russell scored 13, and Austin Reaves scored 13.

Behind Davis, who imposed his way on a Clippers team lacking Ivica Zubac, the Lakers got off to a solid start. But Davis was once again in early foul trouble, and the Clippers were on the rise when he left the game with two fouls.

James Harden gave the Clippers momentum, and they soon built a double-digit lead that allowed them to seize total control of the game. The Clippers were anything but, as the Lakers’ offense—which was clicking before the All-Star break—remained uninspired once more.

The Clippers outhustled the Lakers, which made the situation worse. By halftime, the lead had increased to 14 points (66–52). The Lakers rallied with their best run of the game up to that point, but a rapid start in the locker room increased the margin to 17.

Spurred on by a run of defensive lapses, the Lakers opened up the game in transition and converted fastbreak points. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were the game’s catalysts on both ends, and it was Reaves who stole the ball and made a basket that cut the deficit to 71–62.

But the Lakers’ greatest advantage of the evening, up to 18 points, came as fast as they entered the game thanks to a 10-1 Clippers surge. From that point on, every run the Lakers scored was promptly followed by a Clippers run. The Clippers led by as many as 19 points at the end of the third quarter thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Norman Powell.

LeBron did lead the Lakers to yet another fictitious comeback. LeBron had a great start to the fourth quarter, making many 3-pointers, including one that halted an 8-0 run to bring the score 100-91, only after the Clippers had momentarily increased their lead to 21.