NBA roundup: LeBron James' buzzer beater snaps Lakers' losing streak

LeBron James secured a dramatic victory for the Los Angeles Lakers by tipping in a rebound just as the buzzer sounded, with only 0.1 seconds left on the clock, ending their three-game losing streak with a thrilling 120-119 win against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

In an exhilarating contest in Indianapolis, the Pacers managed to overcome a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, taking a 119-118 lead with 42 seconds to go, putting the Lakers at risk of a fourth consecutive loss.

As time wound down, Luka Doncic made a final attempt to score with a 13-foot floater, but it ricocheted off the rim. James was quick to react, leaping to tap the ball into the basket for the decisive points, securing a vital win for the Lakers in their pursuit of playoff positions in the Western Conference.

Despite not scoring from the field in the first three quarters, the 40-year-old James concluded the game with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Lakers coach J.J. Redick praised the veteran's determination in leading his team to victory, even on a night when his shooting was not at its best.

"It's another great example of where he doesn't necessarily have it going early, and got off to a slow start offensively," Redick said.

"But he was so good defensively for us. And then he takes over in the fourth quarter and gets rewarded by the basketball gods because he didn't let go of the rope and didn't stop competing."

James said he hadn't been bothered by his low-key offensive performance.

"Whatever it takes to help your teammates win," James said. "For me, I can always do other things that still impact the game, even when I'm not scoring.

"That's the beauty of my game, I've always built that throughout my whole life - get my guys involved, rebound, defend and then sprinkle in a few points here and there."

Doncic was the leading scorer for the Lakers, contributing 34 points, along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Austin Reaves added 24 points, while Rui Hachimura supported the offense with 14 points.

This victory positions the Lakers in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of 44-28. The top six teams in the standings secure automatic playoff berths.

In other matchups, Nikola Jokic made a remarkable comeback after missing five games due to injury, scoring 39 points, along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, as the Denver Nuggets triumphed over a depleted Milwaukee Bucks team with a score of 127-117.

The Bucks faced a significant setback on Tuesday when it was announced that Damian Lillard would be sidelined indefinitely due to a blood clot. Additionally, the Bucks played on Wednesday without their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With this win, Denver now holds third place in the Western Conference, trailing only Oklahoma City and Houston, with a record of 46-28.

In New York, the Los Angeles Clippers staged a comeback from a 14-point deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 126-113 at Madison Square Garden.

James Harden led the Clippers with 29 points, including six three-pointers, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 27 points, securing a vital win that places the Clippers at 41-31, occupying the sixth automatic playoff position in the West.

However, the Clippers face limited room for error in a fiercely competitive playoff race that is expected to intensify in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Golden State Warriors currently sit in seventh place in the West, also with 41 wins, while the Minnesota Timberwolves are in eighth with a record of 41-32.

The Phoenix Suns suffered a defeat, falling to 35-38 after being overwhelmed 132-102 by the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics at home.

Despite the absence of Jayson Tatum due to an ankle sprain, the Celtics maintained control throughout the game, scoring 73 points in the first half and leading by as much as 34 points at one point, ultimately achieving a wire-to-wire victory.

SportsLigue