LOS ANGELES — LeBron James’ return to action definitely wasn’t "back in no time," as he promised post-Christmas, but it was worth the wait for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a thrilling 123-118 overtime victory over the local rival Los Angeles Clippers, James put his team ahead for the final time on a nerveless jump shot with just over a minute remaining to set up the win. Earlier, he had a chance to seal the victory in regulation but had the ball stripped by Tobias Harris with four seconds left. The Lakers were also recipients of a fortuitous late foul call, when Lance Stephenson appeared to elbow Clippers big man Boban Marjanovic, but the call went the other way.
So much for the Lakers watching James’ playing time carefully as he came back from a groin strain sustained against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. By the time things were through he had logged 40 minutes, collecting 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
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Whether coincidental to his reappearance or a direct result of it, there was more drama and far more buzz around the Lakers than there has been for the past five weeks.
At times it was like he had never been away. Eh, kind of. Because James has been away, gone for so long that by the end it had, in truth, gotten sort of weird.
On a near-daily basis head coach Luke Walton was asked about the condition of his biggest star, every time he made it sound like a comeback was close, but not quite there yet. All the way from the yuletide season, right up until the morning of the final day in January, hours before James took on the Clippers.
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