Lakers who’ve beaten the buzzer
There is only one regret LeBron James has about the way Sunday night’s game ended for the Lakers — that Anthony Davis’ game-winning shot against the Denver Nuggets didn’t happen at Staples Center.
James remembers what it was like to make one in a packed arena pulling for you. He had that moment in 2009 when his Cleveland Cavaliers were down 1-0 to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals.
“The one thing I wish AD had tonight with the shot that he made, I wish we were playing at Staples,” James said after Sunday’s 105-103 win. “We miss our fans so much, and I can imagine ... it probably would have blew the roof off Staples Center, AD hitting that shot with our crowd. I would have loved to have that moment.”
It was the 779th game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history, according to basketball-reference.com, and Davis became the seventh Laker to make one in the playoffs. Here are the other times it happened: Metta World Peace, May 27, 2010: The player known then as Ron Artest caught an errant shot by Kobe Bryant and made a layup before the buzzer at Staples Center to defeat the Phoenix Suns 103-101 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals for a 3-2 series lead. Kobe Bryant, April 30, 2006: After he made a short floater to send Game 4 against Phoenix into overtime at Staples Center, Bryant knocked down a jumper to clinch a 99-98 victory and a 3-1 lead in the first-round series. Derek Fisher, May 13, 2004: The fling in San Antonio came on an inbounds play with 0.4 seconds left, with Fisher catching, turning and releasing a shot in a split-second for a 74-73 win in Game 5 and a 3-2 lead over the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Robert Horry, May 26, 2002: “Big Shot Bob” collected a tipped rebound after a scramble under the basket in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center and knocked down a three-pointer for a 100-99 victory to tie the series against the Sacramento Kings. Elgin Baylor, March 25, 1964: The star forward sank a 20-foot jumper to defeat the St. Louis Hawks 107-105 at the Sports Arena during Game 3 of the Western Division semifinals as the Lakers avoided elimination in the best-of-five series. Jerry West, April 2, 1963: West stole the ball late against St. Louis and made a game-winning 20-footer to give the host Lakers a 101-99 victory in Game 2 of the Western Division finals. Jerry West, April 10, 1962: The Lakers legend stole an inbounds pass near half court and beat the clock with a layup for a 117-115 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at the Sports Arena.