Lakers-Warriors: Watch this mesmerizing clip of Andrew Wiggins locking down LeBron James
Lebron #Lebron
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the first half of an NBA Tournament Play-In game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on May 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins had a big first quarter in his team’s Wednesday night play-in game versus the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring seven quick points and providing stellar defense against LeBron James.
Wiggins was particularly impressive on one sequence four minutes into the game, when he was isolated one-on-one with James.
After James tried to back Wiggins into the paint, the Warriors forward largely stood his ground and blocked James’ shot attempt. James tracked down the ball and dribbled out to the three-point line to attempt a fadeaway at the buzzer, but Wiggins followed and contested the wild jumper that went off the side of the backboard.
On the Warriors’ ensuing offensive possession, Wiggins ended up making a three-pointer of his own right in LeBron’s face.
James missed multiple games at the end of the regular season due to an ankle sprain, and observers on Twitter noted that the Lakers star got minimal lift on his shot attempt. According to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, coach Frank Vogel’s plan is to use James more frequently in the second half; his ankle apparently gets more and more sore the longer he plays.
The Warriors led the Lakers 28-22 at the end of the first quarter.