ORLANDO — Luke Kennard drilled a three-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night and stretching L.A.’s winning streak to nine.
The game-winner came off a baseline inbound from Marcus Smart. “As soon as he let it go, everybody knew it was in,” head coach JJ Redick said. Orlando’s Jalen Suggs missed a 77-foot heave at the horn, and the Lakers celebrated at midcourt, with LeBron James lifting Kennard in the air.
James moves to No. 1 in NBA history
James appeared in his 1,612th regular-season game, surpassing Robert Parish for the league record. The 41-year-old finished with 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Less than a minute after tipoff, he stole a pass from Desmond Bane and finished a breakaway tomahawk dunk, drawing a roar from the Kia Center crowd.
Final sequence
Orlando led 104-102 with 5.2 seconds left when James pressured Paolo Banchero on an inbound, forcing a turnover that video review upheld. On the ensuing play Smart found James cutting to the rim with 2.6 seconds left, but Banchero blocked the layup attempt while making significant contact with James’s right arm. After the ball went out of bounds, Redick drew up the sideline play that freed Kennard on the left wing for the decisive shot.
“They brought me here to shoot,” said Kennard, acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at last month’s trade deadline. He scored 13 points.
Late surge erases deficit
The Lakers trailed by five with 50 seconds remaining. Austin Reaves (26 points, seven rebounds, five assists) hit a layup, Deandre Ayton (nine points, 12 rebounds) sank a free throw and Kennard capped the 6-0 closeout run. Los Angeles is now 22-6 in clutch situations this season.
Earlier, L.A. led by as many as 14 behind Luka Doncic, who scored 16 of his 33 points in the first quarter. Orlando rallied to make it tight throughout the second half.
After the victory, James credited the team’s poise: “There’s no pressure. We’re calm in those moments. We know we can get stops and make plays.”
Redick, however, voiced frustration with officiating, citing “another night where explanations just get changed on a whim.”
The Lakers improve to 48-18, while the Magic fall to 34-32. Los Angeles continues its road trip Monday in Miami.
Source: ESPN
