Lakers Survive Epic Jazz Rally: Doncic’s Clutch Free Throw Seals 108-106 Thriller
In a thrilling showdown on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly held off a late rally by the Utah Jazz, securing a hard-fought 108-106 win. Despite a dominant second half, the Lakers were nearly undone by a frenzied comeback from the Jazz, led by Lauri Markkanen, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. His clutch 3-pointer capped a 17-5 run that brought Utah to within a single point, 107-106, with under a minute remaining. However, Luka Dončić kept his cool, hitting one of two free throws to push the Lakers’ lead to 108-106.
LeBron James, making his first road appearance of the season, contributed 17 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes. His performance, which came largely through fast breaks and explosive drives to the basket, was crucial in helping the Lakers weather Utah’s late surge. James had previously recorded a double-double in a victory over the Jazz earlier in the week, but this game was a much closer contest from start to finish.
Alongside James, Austin Reaves chipped in with 22 points, while Rui Hachimura added 13. Dončić’s 33 points and 11 rebounds were also key for the Lakers, including a crucial 3-pointer that extended their lead to 98-85 late in the game.
For the Jazz, Keyonte George finished with 27 points and 8 assists but missed a contested jumper at the buzzer that could have stolen the win. Deandre Ayton, who had just two points in 13 minutes of action, was forced to leave the game with a knee bruise in the second quarter. The Lakers, now on a four-game winning streak, held on to improve to 12-4, while the Jazz fell to 5-11.
