LeBron’s Late Dive Highlights Lakers’ Overtime Win Against Nuggets
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In Saturday’s overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James stunned his own bench by fully extending for a loose ball in the closing minutes—a hustle play head coach JJ Redick said he had never witnessed in James’ 23 NBA seasons.
“I’ve never seen him lay out like that,” Redick told reporters after the game, adding that James confirmed it was a first for him as well. Although Jamal Murray won the ensuing jump ball, the effort ignited the Lakers during a matchup both clubs treated as a playoff rehearsal. The result secured the season tiebreaker over Denver, a key factor with both franchises jockeying for home-court advantage.
Los Angeles entered the night fresh off wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks—two above-.500 opponents the team had struggled to beat earlier in the year. Denver erased a 17-point deficit to seize a late fourth-quarter lead, but the Lakers responded behind a series of “winning plays,” Redick said, singling out Austin Reaves for his late-game deflections, steals and physical defense on Nikola Jokić.
“Every possession matters,” James explained, noting the standings implications and the club’s desire to “build” consistent playoff habits. The 41-year-old also contributed strong rebounding and back-line defense, areas Redick believes can further raise the Lakers’ postseason ceiling if maintained.
The win marked Los Angeles’ first overtime triumph of the campaign. Luka Dončić shouldered the scoring load with a 30-point triple-double and banked in the deciding shot—his first game-winner as a Laker. James praised the performance, predicting it would be “the first of many.”
Having passed three daunting tests, the Lakers now prepare for a two-game set in Houston against the Rockets, who trail them closely for the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed.
Source: LakersNation
