The Los Angeles Lakers fell short against the Houston Rockets, losing 119-115 in a tightly contested game at Toyota Center. A pivotal moment in the final seconds left LeBron James and Lakers fans frustrated as a missed opportunity for a timeout proved costly.
With the score at 118-115 and the Lakers in possession, James attempted to call a timeout during a side-out play in the Rockets’ half. However, despite his visible appeal to the referees at midcourt, his request went unnoticed.
CONFIRMED: LeBron signaled for a timeout before the ball was thrown into play. pic.twitter.com/8KBmDYEfWQ
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 6, 2025
Before James’ appeal, Fred VanVleet of the Rockets appeared to push James when he was appealing for the timeout. On the play, James also tried to catch the ball but failed. The turnover that followed allowed VanVleet to capitalize. He sank one of two free throws, sealing the victory for Houston and denying the Lakers a chance to tie the game.
James delivered a strong performance with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, but the controversial ending overshadowed his near triple-double effort. The Lakers questioned the officiating, believing they were entitled to a timeout during the critical moment.
Dorian Finney-Smith Enjoying Life As LeBron James’ Teammate
Dorian Finney-Smith is settling in with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Brooklyn Nets traded Finney-Smith recently in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis. On Sunday night, he shared his excitement about playing alongside LeBron James.
“Having fun seeing LeBron shoot the ball off one leg and s**t. It’s fun to be here to see it and not have to guard it,” Finney-Smith said.
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Finney-Smith has played four games for the Lakers so far, averaging 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. In the recent game against the Houston Rockets, he contributed 13 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
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