As March 2022 arrived, the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of participating in postseason play were increasingly in peril.
They hosted the Golden State Warriors on March 5, and just about no one expected them to have any real shot at winning, especially with Anthony Davis sidelined because of a foot injury.
But LeBron James was disgusted and motivated enough to elevate his team above the sagging sum of its parts.
He went off for one of the better performances of his life, scoring 56 points on 19-of-31 overall shooting, 6-of-11 from 3-point land and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. James also added 10 rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers trailed 67-62 at the half and 94-89 after three quarters, but with James pouring it on, even Stephen Curry’s 30 points couldn’t keep the eventual NBA champs in the lead.
Los Angeles stood tall in its 124-116 victory, perhaps its best of a disastrous season.
