Apr 4, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts to an offensive foul called on him against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports Apr 4, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts to an offensive foul called on him against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

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.

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:

 

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]