Matt Ryan’s clutch 3 sends Lakers to OT on option to 2nd straight win

LOS ANGELES — As sick as LeBron James felt coming into Wednesday’s sport towards the New Orleans Pelicans — bed-ridden with a virus that even precipitated him to overlook the staff Halloween occasion — he absolutely would have felt sicker if the Los Angeles Lakers blew a 16-point lead and fell to 1-6.

Seems that Matt Ryan was simply what the physician ordered.

Ryan hit a game-tying nook 3-pointer off a pinpoint crosscourt inbounds cross from Austin Reaves on the finish of regulation, and L.A. held on in extra time, 120-117, to win its second sport in a row.

“Right this moment was the primary day I received away from bed since Sunday evening,” mentioned James, who completed with 20 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists. “There’s one thing going round, and it hit me fairly good. It harm me to my soul to overlook the Halloween occasion with all of my guys on Monday.”

Whereas James missed the festivities, the Lakers have dressed up as a profitable staff their previous couple of video games out, after beginning the season 0-5.

And the clouds have parted ever so barely for a staff that has already had greater than its justifiable share of accidents and roster scrutiny to start the season.

“My confidence is, in relation to taking pictures, it is unwavering,” mentioned Ryan , who was 2-for-8 from 3 the day earlier than hitting the large one. “I imply, I would not be right here if that wasn’t the case.”

Coach Darvin Ham mentioned he referred to as for the play to go to Ryan, who was a DoorDash supply driver earlier than enjoying in a single sport for the Boston Celtics final season. He got here to the Lakers as a coaching camp invitee and earned {a partially} assured contract because of his outdoors taking pictures efficiency within the preseason.

“I form of simply felt in my intestine that [the Pelicans] know Matt is a menace to shoot it however I’d be utilizing him as some kind of decoy for another person,” Ham mentioned. “However the play was undoubtedly meant for him. Austin threw a hell of a cross.”

The Lakers would not have been in that place if not for lacking 5 straight photographs within the final minute and a half of the fourth quarter that preceded Ryan’s shot. And if not for just a little luck, too. Pelicans rookie Dyson Daniels missed two free throws with 1.6 seconds left that might have iced the sport. Had he made even one out of two, Ryan’s shot would have been moot.

“We did not need to win that sport, so credit score to the Lakers, they did what they wanted to do,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned.

Time will inform whether or not the mini win streak is an indication of larger issues to return for the Lakers or a quick respite in a season stuffed with nightly battles within the Western Convention. To that time, L.A.’s subsequent opponent on Friday, the Utah Jazz, are 6-3 regardless of buying and selling away each of their All-Stars in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the course of the offseason.

There will not be loads of simple nights, and lots of outcomes may come right down to one thing as miniscule as a Daniels free throw or a Ryan 3.

“Simply hold this sense,” Anthony Davis (20 factors, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks) mentioned on the important thing to the Lakers constructing on their present momentum. “Simply saved combating, making an attempt to remain on this second of remembering how profitable feels. We wish to proceed to do it.

“It is beginning to click on, beginning to discover issues. Discover rotations, discover conditions the place we had been actually good. And guys are staying prepared, coming in and enjoying effectively. We’re beginning to put every thing collectively.”