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Welp, all that for naught. After a heroic late-game comeback, the Los Angeles Lakers misplaced their first highway sport of the 2020-21 season in heartbreaking fashion to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
LA fought again from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to take a one-point lead within the remaining seconds, buoyed by a shocking 13-0 run within the final three minutes. Nonetheless, their last-gasp effort was thwarted by Sixers ahead Tobias Harris, who hit a 16-foot jumper over Alex Caruso with 2.5 seconds remaining to ship Philly a 107-106 win.
TOBIAS HARRIS DAGGER 😳pic.twitter.com/xoN7eJN5qr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 28, 2021
Within the earlier possession, Anthony Davis gave the Lakers their first lead because the opening body with a well-executed post-timeout play.
Anthony Davis offers the Lakers their first lead since 14-13 within the first quarter 😤pic.twitter.com/KAivshmJ6d
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 28, 2021
The defeat ended the Lakers’ franchise-record 10-game highway profitable streak to open the season, which threatened mark of 15 set by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. The 1970-71 Purple and Gold personal the report for highway profitable streak with 16.
The 76ers moved to 10-1 at dwelling on the season. Additionally they stay undefeated when Embiid fits up.
Each groups entered Wednesday as the highest seed of their respective conferences, however the loss dropped the defending champions to 14-5 and proportion factors behind the Utah Jazz (13-4) for the highest spot within the West.
LeBron James Pissed off Over Joel Embiid’s Foul-Drawing Ways
The potential Finals preview delivered one of the vital entertaining and chippiest video games of 2021—which shouldn’t come as a shock from two of the league’s most bodily defenses. From the bounce, it was clear that each squads have been bringing playoff-caliber effort to the Wells Fargo Middle, and that each MVP candidates in Joel Embiid and LeBron James have been dialed in.
That was probably the most thrilling NBA sport this season! Tobias Harris hit the sport profitable shot for the Sixers and completed with 24 factors. MVP candidate Embiid had 28. I wouldn’t be shocked if these two groups have been within the NBA Finals!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 28, 2021
It was a battle of whistles from early on. Embiid and James made a dwelling on the line whereas alternatively vying for or complaining about fouls all through the evening. JoJo took eight free throws within the first quarter, and the 2 stars mixed to shoot 24 free throws.
Afterward, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel stated his crew received “higher as the sport went alongside” at guarding the All-Star heart.
“I believe our fouling self-discipline within the second half was much better than within the first half … However he’s a novel participant. … He’s received lots of tips and is shifty and really troublesome to defend with out fouling,” Vogel stated in his post-game presser.
In his pre-game remarks, Vogel particularly cited Embiid’s foul-drawing proclivity as a possible concern.
“The self-discipline it’s important to play towards him to attempt to gradual him down, take away his air house with out placing him to the free-throw line,” Vogel stated. “A tricky problem however an excellent check for us.”
James had the identical remark about his crew’s improved self-discipline as the sport wore on.
“The primary quarter we put them to the road method an excessive amount of. … It allowed them to get their protection set. … moreover that, we held them to 21 factors in second, 26, and 26, and gave ourselves the chance to win on the finish … I like our battle,” James defined.
LeBron then took a slight dig at Embiid’s foul-drawing maneuvers, which the big-man put to skilled use within the first half–together with two swipe-through makes an attempt whereas guarded by Caruso.
“We have now to do a greater job of protecting our hand out of the cookie jar … Embiid has Harden-like magic with these swipes.”
LeBron James, Joel Embiid Get Flagrant-1 Fouls
There was nonstop minor bodily altercations and near-injuries all through the heavyweight bout, and issues fittingly got here to a head within the third quarter. With 5:54 remaining, James pushed Embiid within the abdomen as the middle elevated in the direction of the rim.
James had no malintent, however his gentle shove was sufficient to ship Philly’s star crashing to the hardwood. The Cameroonian heart, who missed the earlier sport with decrease again tightness, scarily slammed onto his bottom and remained on the bottom for a number of seconds earlier than gingerly arising to shoot his three throws.
The play earned James the sixth flagrant foul of his profession and first since 2014.
LeBron with a foul on Embiid who goes down exhausting 😳pic.twitter.com/buqvtyzb0a
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 28, 2021
As if to not be outdone by something his fellow MVP candidate did, Embiid picked up his personal flagrant-1 moments later when he elbowed Davis within the head on a drive by way of the lane.
Seconds after LeBron was referred to as for a flagrant on Embiid, Joel will get his personal flagrant for the elbow on Anthony Davis 😳pic.twitter.com/jVRiogMXIo
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 28, 2021
Either side have been cautious of the whistles all evening, and there was no scarcity of barking at opponents and officers alike. General, there have been 44 fouls, 51 free throws, 4 technicals and two flagrant fouls within the testy affair.
“Clearly, it’s a bodily sport, the video games you wish to rise up for,” Marc Gasol stated after the sport, referring to the problem of enjoying Embiid. “A terrific participant that performs old fashioned … It’s a sport that I get pleasure from enjoying. Preventing, wrestling on the put up … I’ve loved enjoying towards Joel my complete profession.”
Embiid grinded out 28 factors on 8-of-18 taking pictures, together with 11-of-13 from the charity stripe.
“He doesn’t take the passenger’s seat anymore — he’s within the driver’s seat the entire sport,” the large Spaniard added.
James adopted up his electrical 46-point homecoming on Monday with 34 factors on 12-of-22 taking pictures and 8-of-11 from the road. He added six rebounds and 6 assists.
Embiid and James received strong assist from their All-Star runningmates, too. Davis supplied 23 factors (9-of-18 FG), eight rebounds and two blocks, whereas Ben Simmons completed with 17 factors, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Most triple-doubles in NBA historical past earlier than turning 25 years of age:
Oscar Robertson: 89
Magic Johnson: 59
Nikola Jokic: 39
Luka Doncic: 31 (nonetheless 21 years previous)
Ben Simmons: 31 (turns 25 in July) pic.twitter.com/Wkq9vBXpmH— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 28, 2021
Harris hit 10-of-16 subject purpose makes an attempt for twenty-four factors, together with the 2 greatest of the night.
Former Laker Danny Inexperienced—vying to turn into the primary participant in NBA historical past to three-peat with three completely different franchise and the primary participant in American main professional sports activities to win 4 rings with 4 completely different groups—performed a significant function on each ends and hit 4 threes.
The Lakers received an overdue increase from Dennis Schröder within the second half, because the German ended his January drought with 16 second-half factors. Alex Caruso supplied a spark within the late-game comeback, although he was exploited on the ultimate play making an attempt to test Harris.
Caruso as soon as once more key in getting an additional possession, Schroder drains the trey 💦pic.twitter.com/yMPUt6x5RG
— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) January 28, 2021
Lakers vs. Sixers in NBA Finals?
The gritty efficiency marked probably the most spectacular victory of the season for the Sixers, who’ve begun to resemble a real contender below Doc Rivers.
“I believe it’s a very good crew that they put collectively,” James stated. “It’s gonna be lots of groups within the Japanese Convention which might be gonna play championship-level basketball down the stretch. I do know they suppose they’re a kind of groups.”
The Lakers have been colder than normal from beyond-the-arc (8-0f-24) however hung robust within the paint, outscoring the 76ers 62-50 down low.
When requested about the opportunity of matching up with Philly’s dimension in a possible Finals, Davis expressed confidence within the Lakers’ roster as constructed.
“I believe the lineup now we have is totally able to beating this crew in a seven-game collection,” Davis stated.
Subsequent up: Coming off their most bodily sport of the season, the Lakers will proceed their season-long seven-game highway journey with a matchup towards the Detroit Pistons on Thursday within the second leg of a back-to-back.
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