LeBron James emphasized patience and composure after the Lakers erased a 15-point deficit to beat the Mavericks 116-110 on Saturday night. “Sometimes the games are runs. We still had time, I mean obviously to start the fourth, we still had time to make a push,” he said.
The veteran highlighted the team’s defensive effort during the fourth quarter. “I’ve always kind of been like the anchor voice to our defense… knowing the sets guys are trying to put, myself position, help my teammates if they break down. Luka’s defense in the fourth quarter was sensational and everybody fed off that,” James said.
LeBron credited key contributions from teammates like Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura. “Jake was great, Rui was great. Then when we made a miss, with every clean glass he scored another,” he said, stressing the impact of timely scoring.
He also praised Marcus Smart for crucial defensive plays. “That big one… Marcus didn’t give up on the play, was able to strip Cooper, and I think that’s when Jake hit a three. It was big time for him,” James said.
LeBron reflected on his chemistry with Luka Doncic since the trade. “The most important is just comfort. Obviously when you get traded mid-season… him and guys involved in the trade. Biggest thing this year is more comfortable, understanding the system, understanding the city, embracing him, and this is his team,” James said.
The Lakers’ fourth-quarter surge came after a rough third. “Third quarter was pretty bad for us offensively and defensively. They got 35, we scored 14, so we were down by 19 that quarter. But in the fourth, we picked back up,” he explained.
LeBron also noted the development of rookie Cooper Flagg. “Getting better each and every month. That has been a time to get out here with team, understand team identity,” he said.
Reflecting on momentum-shifting plays, James emphasized leadership and situational awareness. “I’ve always kind of been like the anchor voice… helping my teammates if they break down or them help me. We all did a great job,” he said.
The Lakers improved to 26-17 with the win, securing their standing in the Western Conference playoff picture, while Dallas fell to 19-26.
