LOS ANGELES: LeBron James had a triple double and Danny Green hit a buzzer beater to force overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Dallas Mavericks 119-110 on Friday.
James, a 15-time all-star, finished with a season high 39 points and added 16 assists and 12 rebounds for the Lakers.
“After the injury last year I wasn’t myself,” said James. “I heard it all. I heard it all from my year 17. Is this the last we seen of LeBron? He’s not very good at defense.”
James stepped up his game in the overtime session, drawing a foul on a layup for a three-point play that gave Los Angeles a 110-103 lead.
James said teams make the mistake of underestimating his defensive skills.
“You can’t single me out on defense because I am in tune with that side as well. It is important for me,” he said.
James wasn’t the only player to register a triple double. Mavericks star Luka Doncic finished with 31 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds for his 10th career triple double. At 20 he has the most triple doubles in history for a player under the age of 21.
Anthony Davis delivered 31 points and eight rebounds in the win. Lakers reserve Dwight Howard was involved in two controversial plays near the end of the game that could have resulted in calls against the Lakers at key moments but didn’t.
Howard clashed heads with an unsuspecting Doncic with about a minute and a half left in regulation, sending Doncic to the floor in pain and blood oozing from a cut in the back of his head.
On Green’s game-tying basket, Howard appeared to grab Seth Curry with both hands, preventing the Maverick defender from getting to Green in time to prevent the shot. There was no penalty on either play.
LeBron James powers Lakers to overtime win against Mavs
LeBron James powers Lakers to overtime win against Mavs
- Lebron James stepped up his game in the overtime session
- The Lakers star finished with a season high 39 points and added 16 assists and 12 rebounds
