The Los Angeles Clippers dealt a blow to the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff seeding on Wednesday night. The Clippers defeated the Lakers, 125-118.
Norman Powell and Kowahi Leonard combined for 52 points as the Clippers won their 11th-straight contest over their in-town rivals.
Lakers star LeBron James finished with 39 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
In the game’s closing minutes, however, cameras caught James in a confrontation with a Lakers fan wearing a No. 8 Kobe Bryant jersey.
LeBron James appeared to get into a heated exchange with a fan late in the Lakers loss to the Clippers 😬
(via freethrowchick) pic.twitter.com/I4rISvsfv8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 6, 2023
It’s unclear what, exactly, the fan was saying to James. However, it’s clear that the four-time NBA champion didn’t take kindly to the words.
The NBA world was quick to react to the argument:
Ugh and it seems the "fan" is a Kobe die-hard too. This is just ugly and unnecessary. Gross. Doesn't represent the whole Lakers fanbase as well. https://t.co/U8aDO9vJ92
— Nicole Ganglani (@nicoleganglani) April 6, 2023
Kobe jersey on. You know he a freak https://t.co/Nj3dnBkZ9w
— . (@Derudontknow) April 6, 2023
Delusional asf lol. When they back in the lottery, remember this https://t.co/O4H0hBpr1s
— 못생긴 꽃 (@CyresKenneth) April 6, 2023
Im so sick of stans the hate I have for em is thru the roof bc why is bro doing this to Bron after bro played a back to back and dropped 30+ both games https://t.co/NcuKNGFBxY
— Vontrell ❄️ (@2ktrell) April 6, 2023
The Lakers have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament at the very least. After the game, James brushed off the lost seeding and pointed to the team’s overall health as a reason for the performance.
“Whatever we end up, that’s where we end up,” James said, according to NBA.com. “For us, it’s always about health. Over the last couple years, that’s been our Achilles’ heel.”
The Clippers came into the game on three-days rest, while the Lakers were in the second game of a back-to-back.
“It was one of those scheduling conflicts,” James said. “It definitely got the best of us tonight.”
[NBA.com]