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LeBron James celebrates with Luke Kennard of the Los Angeles Lakers after defeating the Orlando Magic 105-104 at Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a dramatic victory Saturday night, but Luke Kennard made it clear the game-winning moment belonged as much to LeBron James as it did to him.
Kennard drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with less than a second remaining to lift the Lakers to a 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic, capping a late comeback. But in breaking down the final possession, Kennard pointed directly to James’ role in creating the shot.
“There are a couple of things going on, a couple reads that Marcus (Smart) had to kind of go through — kind of like a quarterback,” Kennard said. “He’s been in those positions throughout his career, making big-time plays like that and passes and making the right reads.
“But it was a screen to basically get LeBron to slip out and get to the rim for a lob to try to tie the game.”
That action proved decisive.
James’ hard cut to the basket forced multiple defenders to collapse, creating the space Kennard needed.
“He cut hard, he took two guys with him,” Kennard said. “My guy ended up leaving… and I just popped back. I knew I was open.”
Clutch Execution Leads to Wild Comeback
The Lakers’ final sequence reflected both composure and execution under pressure.
Trailing by five with 50.0 seconds remaining, Los Angeles closed the game on a 6-0 run. Austin Reaves ignited the rally with a driving layup, Deandre Ayton added a free throw, and Kennard delivered the decisive three-pointer.
“Marcus had to make a couple of reads and ended up finding me there,” Kennard said. “It was the right read.”
Kennard did the rest.
“I knew I was open… it definitely felt good when it left my hand,” he said. “I thought it was good.”
The shot dropped cleanly, sealing the comeback and igniting a celebration.
“I didn’t really know what was going on — I was just screaming,” Kennard said. “Somebody picked me up… it was really cool.”
That someone turned out to be James — the same teammate who created the opening and lifted Kennard in celebration after the game-winner.
Lakers Overcome Early Swing Behind Balanced Effort
The game featured momentum swings throughout.
The Lakers built an early 14-point lead behind Luka Dončić, who scored 16 of his 33 points in the first quarter. But Orlando battled back and held a late advantage before Los Angeles surged in the final minute.
Dončić finished with 33 points and eight assists, while Reaves added 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Kennard scored 13 points, and Ayton contributed nine points and 12 rebounds.
James finished with only 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, but his influence was felt most in the game’s defining moment.
LeBron James Makes History
The victory also marked a major milestone for James.
He appeared in his 1,612th career game, surpassing Robert Parish for the most games played in NBA history — a record that stood for nearly three decades.
Even without leading the scoring, James’ presence shaped the outcome in critical moments.
Lakers Continue Surge in Western Conference Race
The win extended the Lakers’ winning streak to nine games — the second-longest active streak in the NBA — and gave them a 2.5-game cushion for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles has thrived in tight situations, improving to 22-6 in clutch-time games this season.
That ability to execute late has become a defining trait.
Chemistry and Trust Fuel Lakers’ Success
The final possession also highlighted the Lakers’ growing chemistry.
“You’re building new relationships, trying to find your role,” Kennard said. “But they brought me here for a reason — that was to shoot.”
That trust continues to translate into results.
With contributions across the roster and a clear identity taking shape, the Lakers are peaking at the right time.
And as Saturday’s finish showed, their success is built on execution, unselfish play and the enduring gravity of LeBron James.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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