LeBron James put on an impressive performance on Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 106-103 to reach the semifinals of the in-season tournament. The four-time NBA MVP scored 36 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists in the win.
The Lakers had a slow start to the game, trailing by as many as nine points in the first quarter. However, James was able to spark a comeback with a flurry of three-pointers and layups. He scored 14 points in the second quarter alone to help the Lakers take a two-point lead into halftime.
The Suns responded in the third quarter, taking a five-point lead into the final period. But James was not to be denied, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers pull away for the victory. He was particularly effective down the stretch, scoring seven of the Lakers’ final nine points.
The win was the Lakers’ sixth in a row and their ninth in their last 10 games. It also marked the first time they have reached the semifinals of an in-season tournament since 2014.
James’ performance was a reminder of why he is one of the greatest players of all time. His ability to take over games and lead his team to victory is unparalleled. He is now just one win away from leading the Lakers to their first in-season tournament championship since 2010.