LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious in their NBA Play-In Tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Following that win, NBA analyst Nick Wright shared that James had triumphed in 12 consecutive ‘Do or Die’ games over the last 15 years.
I should make it clear that only Game 7s, Play-In Tournament, and In-Season Tournament knockout games were considered. It won’t be a ‘Do or Die’ game if your team is down 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 in a series, as both sides are not at risk of going home.
As for the Play-In Tournament, even a No. 7 vs No. 8 clash is considered a ‘Do or Die’ for that seventh seed. With that out of the way, here are those 12 games.
1. 2012 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7: Miami Heat 101-88 Boston Celtics
2. 2013 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7: Miami Heat 99-76 Indiana Pacers
3. 2013 NBA Finals Game 7: Miami Heat 95-88 San Antonio Spurs
4. 2016 NBA Finals Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 Golden State Warriors
5. 2018 Eastern Conference First Round Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers 105-101 Indiana Pacers
6. 2018 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7: Cleveland Cavaliers 87- 79 Boston Celtics
7. 2021 Play-In Tournament: Los Angeles Lakers 103-100 Golden State Warriors
8. 2023 Play-In Tournament: Los Angeles Lakers 108-102 Minnesota Timberwolves
9. 2023 In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals: Los Angeles Lakers 106-103 Phoenix Suns
10. 2023 In-Season Tournament Semifinals: Los Angeles Lakers 133-89 New Orleans Pelicans
11. 2023 In-Season Tournament Final: Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 Indiana Pacers
12. 2024 Play-In Tournament: Los Angeles Lakers 110-106 New Orleans Pelicans
LeBron’s last defeat in a ‘Do or Die’ game came all the way back in Game 7 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals where the Celtics beat the Cavaliers 97-92. The loss was certainly not on him, though, as James had 45 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals on the night.
It is quite impressive how LeBron has managed to consistently lead his teams to victory in those high-pressure situations. He has unfairly had this reputation of not coming up big in the big moments. A lot more often than not, he comes through for his teams, and that’s what makes him one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
