Getty Image / Allen Berezovsky
LeBron James has had quite a few moments in his career that basketball fans will never forget.
The 20th-year veteran and NBA all-time leading scorer has enough replay-worthy moments for a dozen Hall of Fame careers. And, on Tuesday morning on the East Coast, he had two monster moments that will join his career highlight tape, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime, 117-111.
The win gave the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers a 3-1 series lead over second-seeded Memphis.
The Lakers led early by double digits for most of the first half, but the Grizzlies went on a big run to close the first half to cut the Los Angeles lead to 54-52 at halftime. And, the 2nd half was nip and tuck.
But, this sequence by Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Desmond Bane gave Memphis the lead with just 6.7 seconds remaining and putting a tied series and home-court advantage in their grasp.
JJJ BLOCKS HACHIMURA AND MEMPHIS SCORE OFF THE BEHIND THE BACK PASS BY MORANT
MEMPHIS UP 2 WITH 6 SECONDS LEFT#NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JQZhgCjJfM
— The Colosseum – On-Chain Sports Betting (@Colosseum_so) April 25, 2023
But, LeBron James had other ideas. He drove to his right, and finished over NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to send the game to overtime.
LEBRON JAMES TIES IT IN THE FINAL MOMENTS.
MEM/LAL HEADING TO OVERTIME ON TNT 🗣 pic.twitter.com/mSagnUs8NM
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023
Wow. What a drive. And, he nearly made what would have been the NBA shot of the decade on the ensuing play, only for it to not count due to being after the buzzer.
AD BLOCKS JA.
WE'RE GOING TO OVERTIME ON TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/A0B4d5hWoS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2023
And, in overtime, he got some revenge over Dillon Brooks, who famously said he wasn’t impressed with LeBron James as a player.
This LeBron James and-1 over Dillon Brooks sent the Crypt into a frenzy 😤pic.twitter.com/bV7QbOVdNs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 25, 2023
That’s a bad, bad, man.
After the game, LeBron James’ teammates made goat noises in the locker room for their GOAT.
Lakers were making goat noises when LeBron walked in 🤣🐐
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/V41OgVO6eY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2023
And, the Twitter tributes for LeBron James came in droves.
LeBron James saved the @Lakers tonight with a king-sized performance to put the Lakers up 3-1 in the Series!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 25, 2023
Y'all poked the wrong bear.
Never disrespect LeBron James again.
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) April 25, 2023
Y’all are probably still gonna act like LeBron doesn’t have more clutch playoff moments than pretty much anybody.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) April 25, 2023
I went to that game – what a special LeBron performance that was. Cooking Brooks for the clincher at the end was perfect. Memorable night. I can’t believe he’s still doing it at this level.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 25, 2023
LeBron James and the Lakers will look to finish off the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday.