It was a late change, but the Los Angeles Lakers welcomed back LeBron James to the floor at the Staples Center Thursday night for a "road game" with the Los Angeles Clippers. After the Lakers blew a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter, they were able to hang on for a 123-120 win in overtime. The victory comes in James' first game back after he missed 17 with a groin injury. The Lakers' star finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, as he turned the ball over four times, but was not called for one foul in 40 minutes of play. James also went 5-of-7 from the free throw line in his first game since Christmas Day, when he went down at Oracle Arena against the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers went 6-11 in the 17 games LeBron missed, which was the longest such absence in his 16-year career. James had the official go-ahead basket in overtime on Thursday, while Lance Stephenson had a key driving layup and three-point play to seal the win for the ninth-seeded Lakers.
Stephenson's three-point play caused some controversy, as the big center, Boban Marjonovic, was called for the foul, despite getting elbowed in the nose. That would cause a bit of a confrontation at center court later in the game, where Stephenson got tied up with Avery Bradley, who was openly upset after the game at the crucial foul call.
The outgoing Stephenson had 20 points for the Lakers in the win, including a career-high five three-pointers, while Brandon Ingram had 19 points, and Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Clippers were led by Lou Williams' 24 points, but Williams could not get a three-pointer off as time expired in overtime, this after Rondo threw the inbounds pass off the leg of Marjonovic. Patrick Beverly added 17 points in the loss for the Clippers, who have a one-game lead on the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
The Lakers will be happy to have James back on Saturday night, when they return to Oracle Arena to face the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Clippers will visit the Detroit Pistons earlier that same day.
The Lakers went 6-11 in the 17 games LeBron missed, which was the longest such absence in his 16-year career. James had the official go-ahead basket in overtime on Thursday, while Lance Stephenson had a key driving layup and three-point play to seal the win for the ninth-seeded Lakers.
Stephenson's three-point play caused some controversy, as the big center, Boban Marjonovic, was called for the foul, despite getting elbowed in the nose. That would cause a bit of a confrontation at center court later in the game, where Stephenson got tied up with Avery Bradley, who was openly upset after the game at the crucial foul call.
The outgoing Stephenson had 20 points for the Lakers in the win, including a career-high five three-pointers, while Brandon Ingram had 19 points, and Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Clippers were led by Lou Williams' 24 points, but Williams could not get a three-pointer off as time expired in overtime, this after Rondo threw the inbounds pass off the leg of Marjonovic. Patrick Beverly added 17 points in the loss for the Clippers, who have a one-game lead on the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
The Lakers will be happy to have James back on Saturday night, when they return to Oracle Arena to face the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Clippers will visit the Detroit Pistons earlier that same day.
