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By Cole Sullivan
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The Los Angeles Lakers have been leaning heavily on 41-year-old LeBron James in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both sidelined due to injury — and so far, the approach has worked.
L.A. took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets on Friday night after rallying from a six-point deficit in the final minute. James knocked down a game-tying three-pointer with 13 seconds left to force overtime, eventually helping seal a 112-108 win.
He finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while the Lakers also got strong contributions from Marcus Smart (21 points, 10 assists, five steals), along with double-figure scoring from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard.
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After the game, Shannon Sharpe — a longtime supporter of James — had a strong message for the NBA superstar's critics during the "Night Cap Show" alongside Chad Ochocinco and Joe Johnson.
“Where’s that crowd that says I can’t do it? All I know is I’m leading a team. I’m averaging 25 points, probably 7 rebounds, probably 7 or 8 assists, and I’m leading my team,” Sharpe said, referencing James. “So I’m just trying to figure out where that crowd is now. Y’all saw when Luka and AR went out and I had to be the lead dog.
“Think about it — when you have a lead dog, once he can’t lead anymore, they put him in the pen. LeBron James is one of the few guys that’s been the lead dog for 22 and a half years because when Luka came, he took a backseat to Luka. Now this year he took a backseat not only to Luka but to AR also. But he said, ‘If I really had to do this, y’all don’t think I can lead again.’”
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James has had to adjust to a different role this season, taking a step back offensively when playing alongside Doncic and Reaves.
With both sidelined, James has slid right back into the role he’s long been known for — leading the charge, handling the ball on nearly every possession, and controlling the tempo of the game. So far, he hasn’t missed a beat.
The Lakers can close out the series Sunday in Game 4 on the road against the Rockets. However, if the Rockets manage to extend the series, it would shift back to Los Angeles for a potential Game 5 early next week, with Reaves nearing a possible return.
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