The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heart-wrenching 119-115 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. The game’s final moments were marred by controversy as LeBron James attempted to call a timeout that the referees seemingly ignored.
With the Lakers trailing by three points and just eight seconds remaining on the clock, James tried to signal for a timeout before the inbound pass was made. However, the referees did not acknowledge his call, and Fred VanVleet of the Rockets managed to steal the inbound pass, leading to a crucial free throw that secured the Rockets’ victory.
After the game, James addressed the situation, expressing his frustration but also maintaining a level-headed perspective.
“Max definitely still had the ball in his hands, but it wasn’t awarded,” James told reporters. “That happens. We didn’t lose the game because of that.”
LeBron on the rebound discrepancy, trying to call a timeout on the inbounds play, The Thompson brothers’ athleticism, and adjusting in the second half: pic.twitter.com/qTz4YsI68e
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 6, 2025
Despite the loss, James had an impressive performance, contributing 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Anthony Davis also put up a strong fight with 30 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Rockets
The Lakers’ comeback effort was remarkable, cutting a 22-point deficit to just two points in the final minutes. However, the missed timeout call added to the frustration of a game that slipped away from the Lakers in the closing seconds.
