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LeBron James, surging Lakers avoid misstep with OT win against Jazz

April 5, 2023

By JOHN COON The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — LeBron James scored nine of his 37 points in overtime – including the game-winning basket – to lead the surging Lakers to a 135-133 overtime victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

Anthony Davis tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who squandered a 10-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation. Austin Reaves added 28 points, as five players scored in double figures to help the Lakers win for the seventh time in eight games.

Kelly Olynyk finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead Utah. Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker added 23 points and seven assists for the Jazz. Horton-Tucker has scored 123 points over his last four games. Ochai Agbaji chipped in 22. The Jazz lost for the seventh time in eight games.

James drove for a go-ahead layup with 27 seconds left to help the Lakers escape with a win. The Lakers held Utah without a basket over the final 1:38 after Olynyk gave the Jazz a 132-129 lead with a 3-pointer.

Utah rallied from a double-digit deficit after shooting 71% from the field in the third quarter. The Jazz finally took their first second-half lead on back-to-back baskets from Collin Sexton and Luka Samanic, going up 99-97 early in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers retook the lead on back-to-back baskets from Dennis Schroder and James and went up 124-114 with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter on eight straight points from Reaves.

Utah countered with a 10-0 run to force overtime. Olynyk scored a basket and assisted two others and Jones knotted the score on a pair of free throws with 11.4 seconds remaining in regulation.

TIP-INS

Lakers: Reaves is averaging 20.5 points during the Lakers’ 7-1 stretch. … James, Davis, and Reaves combined for 18 assists, dishing out six apiece.

Jazz: Samanic made his first start of the season, finishing with 12 points. … Sexton returned to action after missing 18 games with a hamstring strain. He scored 15 points and had three assists in 16 minutes.