LOS ANGELES – – – Maxi Kleber drilled the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer on a cross pass from Kyrie Irving, who scored 38 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ stunning 111-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
With Luka Doncic sidelined, Kleber did a remarkable imitation of the injured superstar who has repeatedly beaten the Lakers with big shots over the years. The German big man’s teammates piled on him in celebration after he silenced the Lakers crowd with his only 3-pointer of the night.
“I’ve never had a shot like this before,” said a smiling Kleber, who scored six of his 10 points in the final 7.2 seconds.
Kleber first hit three free throws after Anthony Davis recklessly fouled him on a 3-point attempt, and Davis made just one of two for Los Angeles with 6.7 seconds left. after being fouled on the ensuing inbound pass. Dallas handed the ball to Irving, who drew a double team and found Kleber for an open 3-pointer out on Davis’ outstretched arm just before the horn.
“When he passed him, I knew I had to shoot him fast,” Kleber said. “It was a pretty amazing feeling. Once I let go of it, I saw the ball in the air and I was like, ‘Oh fuck, it has a chance to go in.’ suddenly he came in, and the next thing I knew the whole team started running towards me. It was a pretty cool experience.
The game was also redeeming for Kleber, who threw an inbound pass with 1.8 seconds left in regulation against San Antonio on Wednesday night. Spurs then tied it and won extra time.
“Knowing Ky, he wanted to go for the win,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of the final game. “With the double team, he had to let go of the ball. It’s just trust with his teammates, and Maxi was in the right place at the right time.
Irving scored 13 points in the fourth quarter of his return after a three-game injury absence for the Mavs, who avoided falling to a three-way tie with the Lakers and Timberwolves in the tight Western Conference standings.
“We fought hard to get back in the game, so it’s tough,” said Davis, who also missed crucial last-minute free throws in losses to Boston and Philadelphia. “You have to be able to win basketball games, whether it’s on the free throw line or me getting the right read defensively.”
Davis had 26 points and 10 rebounds before making a handful of huge last-minute errors for the Lakers, who missed 12 of 31 free throw attempts and couldn’t score a field goal in all 3 :16 finals with another blow to their playoffs. hopes. Los Angeles led by four points and had the ball with less than 20 seconds left, but still lost for the third time in four games.
“We make our free throws, we probably don’t have that conversation,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.
Austin Reaves scored 16 points for Los Angeles and Dennis Schröder had 15. Los Angeles overcame a nine-point deficit to start the fourth quarter but stifled the stretch with LeBron James watching in street clothes.
James missed his 10th straight game since the Lakers’ win at Dallas last month, and the Lakers fell to 5-5 without the NBA career leader.
ADVICE
Mavericks: Doncic missed his fourth straight game with a left thigh bruise. He hopes to return early next week. … Irving played 39 minutes after missing the last three games with a sore right foot, while Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points after missing Dallas’ last game with a bruised left calf.
Lakers: Coach Darvin Ham said James’ rehabilitation sessions are going well. The 20-year-old veteran is due for re-examination next week. … D’Angelo Russell struggled, getting 11 points and 11 assists while going 0 for 6 on his 3-point attempts.
FOLLOWING
Mavericks: In Memphis on Monday night.
Lakers: Host Orlando on Sunday night.
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