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LeBron James Credits Lakers’ 1st Road Win to Having “$500,000 on The Line”

Published 11/11/2023, 1:18 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns collided in their first in-season tournament showdown. Fans were in for a surprise right from the get-go as Austin Reaves was coming off the bench. However, the Lakers managed to break free from a three-game losing slump, sailing past the Suns with a 122-119 victory. LeBron James led the scoring charge with an impressive 32 points, while D’Angelo Russell added 19 points to his name, making them the top contributors for the Lakers.

Furthermore, Cam Reddish, Anthony Davis, and Reaves himself delivered well-timed contributions to secure the win. Cam Reddish and Anthony Davis exploded with 17 and 18 points, respectively, while Reaves made his mark with a respectable 15 points of his own.

LeBron James voices hilarious motivation for the Lakers comeback

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The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their inaugural in-season tournament victory. LeBron James led the charge with a team-high 32 points. In addition to his scoring, he also secured 11 rebounds, notching yet another double-double of the season.

In the brief post-game interview, James fielded a question about the team’s motivation to mount a comeback; especially after a challenging three-game stretch. In a humorous response, he flashed a smile and quipped, “There’s $500,000 on the line. So we’re going for that.”

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As soon as James finished his response, the reporter cheekily inquired if he’d be willing to share the winnings. In an ethereal mood, LeBron James paused for a moment, contemplating, and replied with a playful, “Maybe, we’ll see.”

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The brief interview wrapped up with a chorus of laughter, highlighting the evident camaraderie that has ignited in the Lakers’ locker room. Amid their victory, the Lakers seem to not only win games but also form stronger bonds and share good vibes.

Darvin Ham’s questionable move worked out

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Fans anxiously perched on the edge of their seats as Austin Reaves was unexpectedly projected to come off the bench. To take Reaves’ place, Cam Reddish was awarded the coveted starting role; providing the Lakers with a fortified frontcourt, thanks in part to Anthony Davis‘ return.

Consequently, LeBron James and Cam Reddish orchestrated a series of pivotal plays that proved instrumental in the hard-fought victory. Their synergy was palpable, even after their loss against the Miami Heat. Furthermore, the two also displayed sheer confidence in each other during the final minutes of the game. LeBron sank 3 out of 4 beyond the arc, while Reddish boasted 5 out of 8.

As a team, the Lakers collectively shot 12-27 from beyond the arc, their most efficient performance from the three of the season. Furthermore, along with Ham, James also placed his trust in Reddish continuously throughout the game.

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On the flip side, Reaves orchestrated crucial plays throughout the game, all while logging a hefty 35 minutes on the court; third in playing time behind James and Davis.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He has been writing articles and blogs for 5 years now, including those for a sports brand that manufactures knee braces, for a Red Bull athlete in 2019 and for a documentary of an Ultra Running Coach in 2021. There’s plenty Saahil can write about why he likes basketball, having followed the NBA for more than 10 years, but he is most keen on picking out various offense/defense strategies, on/off-court decisions, roster changes in crunch time and other underrated key elements that leave an impact on the scoreboard.
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Edited by:

Vishav