Every NBA arena holds contests for fans on the court, with many iconic moments coming out of fans either failing miserably at basketball challenges or pulling off an incredible life-changing performance that inspires everyone. The latest one at the Crypto.com Arena was the former, as a Laker fan ended up hurting his ankle after airballing a halfcourt shot for $55,000.
The fan took a big run up and tossed the ball, which didn’t end up hitting the rim. The fan couldn’t stop himself after the momentum he generated in his run-up, proceeding to fall forward. When an interviewer helps him up, the fan realizes his ankle isn’t right, struggling to walk without assistance.
No way this Lakers fan injured himself on the halfcourt shot 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/hhWz6Wxy8y
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) November 20, 2023
If the fan stayed in the arena after that moment, he would’ve got the chance to see an incredible match that went down to the wire and ended in a win for the Lakers. LeBron James turned back the clock in a sensational performance punctuated by a dominant fourth quarter to close the win out, ending the night with 37 points on over 70% from the field.
LeBron James Dealing With Injuries
After the win, LeBron revealed to the media that he was playing through injuries and sickness but was being fueled by a competitive fire.
“I’m in a really good groove right now. I don’t feel that great right now, dealing with a couple of injuries, a little bit under the weather right now…the competition got me going a little bit.”
This revelation has to be terrifying for Lakers fans who know how heavily reliant on LeBron they still are. James is a team-high +66 this season and completely changed the game by taking over in the fourth. The Lakers struggled all night to score without James or Davis until an Austin Reaves cameo helped them up the game away.
James is averaging 34.3 minutes of play per game this season after he was allegedly put on a minutes restriction at the start of the season, one that hadn’t been followed since the first game.
Rockets Head Coach Criticized Dillon Brooks’ Defense On LeBron
The game was defined by a battle between LeBron and notorious pest Dillon Brooks, who’s become a pseudo-rival to James since his trash-talk last season. Despite his best efforts, James picked the Rockets defense apart, including Brooks himself.
The final play of the game came when the scores were tied and the Lakers were inbounding the ball to LeBron. Brooks was guarding James and over-committed, even grabbing James’ shirt as he drove to the rim. With a shooting foul being handed out, LeBron iced the game on the line. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka wasn’t happy with how Brooks defended that possession.
“Udoka said Brooks’ gamble on the entry pass to LeBron that led to the eventual game-winning free throw wasn’t ‘a smart decision’.”
Udoka said Brooks’ gamble on the entry pass to LeBron that led to the eventual game-winning free throw wasn’t “a smart decision”.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) November 20, 2023
Brooks still had a great game, scoring 24 points with six made three-pointers. Unfortunately, this is another loss for him in his rivalry with James after playing a role in the Rockets blowing out a Lakers squad without Anthony Davis.
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