Watch: LeBron James turns alley-oop into three pointer during career-best first half performance
LeBron James was hot to start Game 4 for the Lakers. So hot that even an alley-oop attempt turned into a made three-pointer.
James has struggled from deep to begin the postseason but was feeling it in the first quarter. After going 3-of-19 from three in the first three games of the conference finals against Denver, James was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and scored 21 first-quarter points in a must-win game for Los Angeles.
He finished the first half with 31 points, a career-high for him in any half in a postseason game, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
The Nuggets lead the series 3-0 but James' hot start means the Lakers might not be ready to break for Cancun just yet. They led 34-28 at the end of the first quarter and built the lead up to 73-58 at the half. If that lead holds, the Lakers will fly back to Denver for Game 5 on Wednesday.
James is doing his part to keep the series alive. McMenamin also noted the 21 points James scored in the first quarter is the fourth instance he's scored 20 or more points in a quarter in the postseason and the first time he's done so in five years.
The alley-oop-turned-three could be a sign that Monday is the Lakers' night. Denver shouldn't feel any shame for losing if James' assists are turning into accidental threes.
With a half left and Anthony Davis struggling by shooting 2-of-7 from the field, the Nuggets still have time to get back in this one. James will need his teammates to step up. As great as it is watching him complete alley-oops to no one, the Lakers will be in a lot better shape if their other options show up in the second half.
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