Lakers News: LeBron James Finds Himself In Elite LA Company After Game 4
Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James, at the ripe old age of 38, was the best player on the hardwood during last night's critical 117-111 Game 4 overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.
With the victory, the seventh-seeded Lakers (43-39 on the regular season) have improved their series record against the second-seeded Grizzlies to 3-1, meaning they're just a game away from advancing to the Western Conference's second round. They will face off against the winner of the ongoing 3-6 matchup between the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors. That series is currently knotted at 2-2, meaning it will minimally have to extend to two more games. LA can wrap things up tomorrow in Memphis. Were that to happen, the Lakers would get to enjoy at least a bit of a break before a Conference Semis against either club.
A breather would do James' weary body good.
In 45:28, the 6'9" swingman scored 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 shooting from the charity stripe, pulled down a whopping 20 rebounds, passed for seven assists (against just one turnover) and swatted two blocks.
Ineffective Grizzlies small forward Dillon Brooks' criticisms of James -- who may no longer quite be in his prime but, to be fair, is playing in his 20th NBA season -- have proven so meaningless that Brooks has refused to even talk about the series to the press for the past two nights, in a hilarious display of immaturity and cowardice.
James' 20-20 night was a dual first. Never before in his career has the 19-time All-Star notched this stat. He also emerged as the first Lakers player since another Los Angeles Hall of Famer, center Shaquille O'Neal, accomplished the feat 19 years ago, according to the Lakers.
It marks the latest otherworldly achievement for James in a career full of them. Let's see if he can help LA close things out tomorrow.
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