LeBron James sunk a buzzer beater at the rim on Wednesday night, March 26, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a one-point road win over the Indiana Pacers.
His reaction to the accomplishment postgame -- to borrow a clichéd sports phrase -- was as though he'd been there before. And that makes sense, seeing as he had been in that exact scenario on seven different occasions throughout the course of his career.
"I really couldn't have too much emotion because I was trying to see if I got the ball off in time," James said. "But after they showed the replay on it, it was definitely gratifying to know. Especially the way we've been playing, and to know how [the Pacers have] been playing, and to come in here and get a good win in a very hostile environment -- it's big-time for our ball club."
LeBron James on his game-winning tip-in: "I really couldn't have too much emotion because I was trying to see if I got the ball off in time" pic.twitter.com/9MAlmaqbka
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 27, 2025
The Lakers' victory Wednesday on the second night of a four-game road stretch toppled a three-game losing streak, including the last two outings since James' return from a groin injury he suffered on March 8.
L.A. was 3-4 without James in the lineup, in large part thanks to Luka Doncic returning to his All-NBA form after missing several weeks earlier this season with a calf injury. But despite James coming back and the team getting healthier in general, the Lakers dropped consecutive contests to the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic.
Those losses have made home court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs uncertain, as the Lakers are currently tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for fourth place in the standings.
Los Angeles is on the road at Chicago Thursday in the second night of a back-to-back before rounding out the trip with a game in Memphis on Saturday.
James' buzzer beater to best the Pacers represented the final two points of a 10-point fourth quarter and just a 13-point night for the 40-year-old superstar. He now has eight buzzer beaters in his NBA career, tied for the second-most all time, and became the oldest player to hit a buzzer-beating game winner on Wednesday night.
Related: Luka Doncic Steals LeBron James' Shine After Buzzer Beater Over Pacers
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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM.