A court full of elite athletes from two of the NBAs premier franchises, and it was all decided by a pinkie. As well as a beautiful fadeaway by LeBron James.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a 114-112 win over a Boston Celtics team missing Kemba Walker on Sunday, prevailing in a game in which neither team was ever up by double digits. The win avenged one of the Lakers worst losses of the season, a 139-107 drubbing in Boston on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
LeBron James was his typical self, posting 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. (AP Photo\/Marcio Jose Sanchez)<\/p>\n
As usual, 61 combined points from James and Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers, but the games final minute hinged on a scramble for a free throw. With less than a minute remaining and down 110-109, James missed the second of two free throws. The ball fell to Bostons Jaylen Brown, but Davis aggressively reached for the ball, which was eventually knocked out of bounds.<\/p>\n
The out-of-bounds was called on the Celtics, but a replay showed the ball seeming to last touch Davis pinkie. Or not. The officials eventually decided to let the call stand.<\/p>\n
On the next play, James squared off against Brown, tried to push the Celtics star into the post, then hit a beautiful fadeaway to give his team the 111-110 lead.<\/p>\n
In the middle of it all, the Lakers superstar smirked as he figured out what to do.<\/p>\n
Jaylen Brown had been playing me toward the baseline because I had been drop-stepping all game, James said after the game. I knew if I just gave him a little shimmy shake to the baseline, I could come back middle and get my shot off. Through the grace of God and a lot of hard work, I was able to knock it down.<\/p>\n
The Lakers would never relinquish that lead, with the game ending on an attempted game-winner from Jayson Tatum was called off by an offensive foul.<\/p>\n
Had Tatum received those points, it would have capped a masterful day for the 21-year-old as he filled in for Walkers absence on offense. Tatum finished with 41 points on 12-of-20 shooting, the first player to top 40 points in a Lakers-Celtics game since Kobe Bryant in 2011.<\/p>\n
Despite the loss, the Celtics should definitely feel heartened they took the Lakers to the final minute on the road and without their All-Star point guard. The team looked like a legitimate Finals contender (though the Milwaukee Bucks remain an enormous obstacle), and should be at full strength soon once Walker has recovered from a minor knee procedure.<\/p>\n
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Lakers eke out win over Celtics by a pinkie - Yahoo Sports<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A court full of elite athletes from two of the NBAs premier franchises, and it was all decided by a pinkie. As well as a beautiful fadeaway by LeBron James Continue reading