The Brooklyn Nets returned to action on Christmas Day against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena after the league postponed a few of their games due to covid-19 ravaging the team. The Nets returned re-energized, as they took care of business against the struggling Lakers team.
James Harden and Patty Mills were unstoppable in that game, knocking down three-pointers and finding their way to the free-throw line. While they played incredibly well, especially Harden, who has been in isolation for 15 days, the highlight of the night was Nicolas Claxton’s dunk on LeBron James.
LBJ is an elite-level shot-blocker, which is why we do not see a lot of posters involving LeBron. In this matchup, Claxton was determined to do anything to help his team win, including throwing it down over the outstretched hand of King James.
The Lakers, led by LeBron had overturned a 20-point deficit at the end of the third quarter and tied the game 115 apiece with 40 seconds to go in the fourth. Eager to ensure they do not go behind that late in the game, LeBron attempted to block a dunk attempt by Claxton. After a pick-and-roll action, Claxton received the alley-oop from Harden and literally threw it into the net over LeBron, and also drew the foul.
22-year-old Claxton is in his third year and was excited about his dunk on LeBron. According to Nets beat writer for The Athletic Alex Schiffer, it was the highlight of his career.
Nic Claxton calls his dunk over LeBron James the highlight of his young career. “It was lit.”
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) December 27, 2021
“Nic Claxton calls his dunk over LeBron James the highlight of his young career. ‘It was lit.'”
The big man ended the game with 9 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. Although LeBron had another monster performance, registering 39 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 assists, the Lakers lost 122-115.
