The road trips are long, games are piling up, and eyes are drooping in the Lakers’ locker room. The NBA schedule is long \u2014 the comparison to the marathon is too accurate to be dismissed outright as mere clich\u00e9.<\/p>\n
But the Lakers are lucky. We are lucky to be playing the Celtics in Boston on Saturday. The Celtics are one of the NBA’s best environments and he’s one of the NBA’s best rivals to play against one of the NBA’s best teams.<\/p>\n
The Lakers’ decision makers are lucky because they know what this team is, even if they lose in overtime, 125-121, their 50th game of the season. And, more importantly, this team is not.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6d2ee10\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/754x238+0+92\/resize\/320x101!\/format\/webp\/quality\/80\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2F65%2F3a2901ce4768af02bbd623fe5216%2Flebron-james.gif)
<\/source><\/picture> <\/div>\nWhen will LeBron James become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer?<\/p>\n
See how LeBron James chased Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time scoring record.<\/p>\n
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Points:<\/b> 38,387<\/p>\n
LeBron James Points:<\/b> 38,271<\/p>\n
Points from the record: <\/b>117 points<\/p>\n
Prediction game up to record: <\/b>Five<\/p>\n
Scheduled recording date: <\/b>Feb 7 vs Thunder<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
LeBron James looks like the player to break the NBA’s all-time scoring record next week, dominating the game with points, rebounds and passes. He had 41 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.<\/p>\n
The team, which returned Anthony Davis from injury and acquired Rui Hachimura for the first time Wednesday, added Ronnie Walker IV to the rotation on Saturday after missing the previous 14 games.<\/p>\n
And with Patrick Beverley taking the rhythm and Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schrader fully integrated after thumb surgery delayed their debuts, a more complete picture of the Lakers’ potential is being painted. It is<\/p>\n
Beverly in particular made a big impact in the match, hitting a go-ahead three and a go-ahead dunk in the final minute of regulation after harassing Jason Tatum.<\/p>\n
Still there are cracks.<\/p>\n
The team failed to blow the key whistle at the end of regulation when LeBron James attacked the rim, and the repercussions carried into overtime. I was stunned.<\/p>\n
Lakers coach Durbin Hamm said, “The harder we try not to put it on the umpire, the harder it gets. .<\/p>\n
Before that, the Lakers showed another sign of restlessness on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Beverly’s missed free-throw in the final minute of the fourth set kept the Lakers cool, just as they missed wins against Philadelphia and Boston earlier in the season. could not be kept.<\/p>\n
![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f881ed9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5188x3460+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/80\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2Ff9%2Ff547de1145efa4b361f1d19f0295%2Flakers-celtics-basketball-94065.jpg)
<\/source><\/picture>\nLeBron James sits on the bench with a towel over his head after the Lakers’ overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday.<\/p>\n
(Michael Dwyer\/Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
The Lakers gave up a crucial offensive rebound and Jalen Brown scored and fouled to tie the game with a free throw and 4.1 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n
The offensive rebound came after Al Horford saw a clean 3-point tie due to defensive miscommunication.<\/p>\n
Emotions continued to be an issue for the Lakers, and Beverly grabbed the camera and presumably showed one of the referees the final play of regulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many things we could do better,\u201d said Hamm.<\/p>\n
And questions about Russell Westbrook and his place in the Lakers’ winning formula, as well as the Lakers’ ability to seriously contend for anything other than an early playoff exit, should always arise. I have a concern.<\/p>\n
Against the Celtics, Westbrook struggled \u2014 the crowd demanded him shoot. He started 0-for-6 before scoring his first point from the free-throw line. He finished regulation on the bench, sitting fourth overall with 8 points, 7 assists and 5 turnovers.<\/p>\n
But going into overtime, Westbrook provoked the Lakers with a chip-in while drawing a foul. In addition to his free throws, he made two more after drawing flagrant fouls. He then missed corner 3 and reversed his layup on the next possession. Westbrook scored 12 points.<\/p>\n
Walker’s comeback was generally good.<\/p>\n
Playing for the first time since late December, Walker quickly found a rhythm and recorded his first basket in a month with an easy layup. The basket helped allay Hamm’s pre-game concerns that he expected Walker to slowly get back into the flow.<\/p>\n
“You take him slow, you know what I mean? And let him play in rhythm,” Hamm said. \u201cJust being healthy is half the battle. You have to be fit and in a rhythm. increase.”<\/p>\n
Walker went 6-8 in 18 minutes and scored 13 points in his most efficient shooting performance of the season.<\/p>\n
The Lakers now continue to work on the court at full speed, awaiting Austin Reeves, who is due to be re-evaluated Thursday.<\/p>\n
“If you race as hard as you did tonight to start this journey, you’ll be fine,” Hamm said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n